ABSTRACT
Self-control – the ability to regulate current thoughts, feelings, and behavior to secure future benefits (Bandura, 1989; Carver & Scheier, 1981, 1982; Metcalfe & Mischel, 1999; Rothbaum et al., 1982; Vohs & Baumeister, 2004) – is one of the most widely and intensely studied topics in psychology. Related terms include delay of gratification and willpower, which capture the essence of self-control as entailing the forgoing of smaller immediate rewards (such as enjoying a bag of potato chips) in favor of larger yet delayed rewards (such as being slim, fit, and healthy). The concerted research effort focused on self-control is largely inspired by the fact that it is associated with a host of positive outcomes. Whether self-control is conceptualized as a trait or a state, empirical research shows that people with high relative to low self-control are better able to control their thoughts, regulate their emotions, and engage in goal-directed behavior. Self-control is implicated in nearly all forms of behavior conducive to a successful and happy life, including those in the academic, health, and interpersonal domains (De Ridder, Lensvelt-Mulders, Finkenauer, Stok, & Baumeister, 2012; Tangney, Baumeister, & Boone, 2004). Conversely, low self-control is assumed to be at the heart of many societal problems, including obesity, substance abuse, criminality, impulsive buying, and procrastination (Baumeister & Heatherton, 1996; Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990; Steel, 2007; Vohs & Faber, 2007). Findings such as these have spurred researchers to examine not only the antecedents and consequences of successful self-control, but also the underlying mechanisms that facilitate or impair self-control decision-making.
