Self-regulation and depletion of limited resources: Does self-control resemble a muscle?

Abstract

The authors review evidence that self-control may consume a limited resource. Exerting self-control may consume self-control strength, reducing the amount of strength available for subsequent self-control efforts. Coping with stress, regulating negative affect, and resisting temptations require self-control, and after such self-control efforts, subsequent attempts at self-control are more likely to fail. Continuous self-control efforts, such as vigilance, also degrade over time. These decrements in self-control are probably not due to negative moods or learned helplessness produced by the initial self-control attempt. These decrements appear to be specific to behaviors that involve self-control; behaviors that do not require self-control neither consume nor require self-control strength. It is concluded that the executive component of the self--in particular, inhibition--relies on a limited, consumable resource.

Physiological and Psychological Effects of Deception on Pacing Strategy and Performance: A Review

“…In addition to lower oxygen uptake and higher blood glucose, more 'positive' emotions and less effort needed to regulate emotions were reported in the false positive feedback conditions compared to the negative feedback condition. Greater energy cost has been associated with the regulation of emotions [55,56] and therefore suggests that emotions could have a mediating role between belief effects and performance, and suggests that the positive feedback in this study may have lowered the metabolic cost of movement. Mauger et al [57] also speculated that the higher proportion of positive feedback responses, given in a trial where correct split time feedback was provided in comparison to a false feedback trial, elicited motivational benefits which allowed a faster time to completion.…”

Promoting personal resources and reducing exhaustion through positive work reflection among caregivers.

“…These findings corroborate the recommendation of Briner and Walshe (2015), who state that "intervening to increase the level of a particular resource in the target group […] makes sense if that group has relatively low or underdeveloped levels" (p. 572). Another explanation as to why only the high NFR group enhanced their personal resources might be found in the nature of personal resources, as described by Muraven and Baumeister (2000). These authors argued that personal resources operate like a muscle.…”

Does self-control improve with practice? Evidence from a six-week training program.

“…Evidence from a 6-Week Training Program Self-control, or the ability to control thoughts, behaviors, and feelings, seems to be important for success in most areas of life (De Ridder, Lensvelt-Mulders, Finkenauer, Stok, & Baumeister, 2012). During the past 15 years, much of the research into self-control has been inspired by the strength model, which draws the analogy between self-control and a physical muscle (for a review, see Muraven & Baumeister, 2000). This model proposes that, just as using a muscle leads to temporary fatigue, exerting self-control leads to temporary reductions in selfcontrol performance; a phenomenon that has been termed 'ego depletion' (Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Muraven, & Tice, 1998).…”