Impaired Learning From Errors and Punishments and Maladaptive Avoidance—General Mechanisms Underlying Self-Regulation Disorders?

Abstract

Self-regulation (SR) is an important human function that relates to quality of life in multiple domains including mental health. Previous studies have found important correlates of low SR including impulsivity and poor emotional regulation; however, underpinnings of low SR are incompletely understood. Individuals low in SR frequently engage in maladaptive behaviors (substance abuse, procrastination, etc.) despite negative consequences. This phenomenon suggests that impaired learning from errors and punishments may be important mechanisms underlying low SR. Consistently, previous studies observed impaired error processing in a wide spectrum of individuals with low SR and impaired learning from errors and punishments in SR-related disorders. We also note a possible role for poor emotional regulation and refer to concepts suggesting that engaging in maladaptive behaviors may serve as short term emotion regulation strategies aimed at avoiding or alleviating negative affect. We speculate on transdiagnostic factors underlying poor SR. We propose that impaired error processing (possibly related to striatal functioning) may prevent subjects with low SR from learning from errors and punishments and thus learning better SR skills or tendencies. Additionally, impaired coping in emotionally challenging situations, possibly related to prefrontal-cortical functioning, may lead to maladaptive avoidance. Moreover, maladaptive behaviors may be reinforced by the temporary decreases in negative affect and rewarding values of behaviors. Given existing knowledge gaps, we call for more extensive research and describe possible directions and challenges for future studies.

Self-regulation and learning from failures: Probabilistic reversal learning task reveals lower flexibility persisting after punishment in procrastinators.

“…We think of procrastination as of a nonclinical example of a self-regulation disorder. Therefore, we suggest that impaired learning on errors and punishments may not be restricted to procrastination, but may also manifest in other self-regulation disorders (see Wypych & Potenza, 2021, for a conceptual article). First, the diminished error-related ACC activity (Wypych et al, 2019) in procrastination is very similar to results typical for substance and behavioral addictions (see Luijten et al, 2014 for meta-analysis) and was also found in criminal recidivism (Aharoni et al, 2013).…”

“…The goal of the present study was to address the question of whether procrastination, representing a nonclinical self-regulation disorder, is related to impaired learning on errors and punishments. This question was based on our previous results indicating impaired error processing and lack of ability to intensify executive control in task context related to punishment in procrastinators (Wypych et al, 2019), as well as on a more general theoretical considerations on the role of learning from errors and punishments in self-regulation (see Wypych & Potenza, 2021). In the present study, we asked high and low procrastinating students to take part in a modified monetary probabilistic reversal learning task with separate reward and punishment conditions.…”

“…), despite negative consequences or punishments. This may suggest deficits in learning from errors and punishments in individuals characterized with low self-regulation (see Wypych & Potenza, 2021, for a recent conceptual paper). To test this hypothesis, we decided to examine whether procrastination is related to impaired learning on errors and punishments.…”

“…Based on the results of our previous studies (Michałowski et al, 2017;Wypych et al, 2019) and the theoretical considerations (Wypych & Potenza, 2021), we expected HP to show lower flexibility during task performance, as indexed by lower learning and higher persistence rates obtained by learning models, especially in the PUN condition.…”

“…Low SR is often linked with the repeating of maladaptive behaviors, despite their negative consequences (e.g., substance abuse, gambling, excessive gaming, procrastination, etc.). The repeating of such behaviors, despite the negative consequences or punishments, may suggest deficits in learning from errors and punishments in individuals characterized with low SR (see Wypych & Potenza, 2021, for a recent conceptual article). In the current study we wanted to experimentally address the question of whether a nonclinical example of a self-regulation disorder, namely trait procrastination, is related to impaired learning from errors and punishments.…”