PSYC19H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter Introduction: Sigmund Freud, Victim Blaming
Introduction
Self-Control – capacity to restrain, inhibit, modify thoughts/emotions/behaviour
oProcess of overriding/inhibiting automatic/habitual/innate desires
oInvolves conflict between competing motives/desires
Nothing to restrain if there is no conflicting desire
Conflicting desires are temporally asymmetric (small reward now, larger later)
oPhenomenologically effortful, even aversive; based on executive function (inhibition)
oDistinct from self-regulation (planning, goal-setting, habits)
Self-control is form of self-regulation
Experience sampling. Hofmann et al 2012
oAsk what people desire in the moment by texting them 7 times during a day
oAnswer questions about what they’re feeling/thinking about right now
Are you desiring something now? If so, what do you desire?
How strong is the desire? Does it conflict with personal goals?
oLooks at kinds of desires that can lead people astray, or stress out
oDesire strength (x) plotted against desire & goal conflict (y)
Size of pie = frequency of desire
Darker the pie = probability of self-control failure
oFrequent desires: sleeping, eating, drinking
oStrongest desires: sleep, sex, hygiene
Weakest: alcohol and tobacco
oMost conflict: leisure/socialize, spending/saving, sleep
oSelf-control failure: media use, work
Failure to regulate media use and work/study
Textbook
Willpower & self-control contributes to human welfare
oWillpower to change ourselves/society in small or large ways
Fueled by bloodstream glucose, the strength to preserve
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Document Summary
Self-control capacity to restrain, inhibit, modify thoughts/emotions/behaviour: process of overriding/inhibiting automatic/habitual/innate desires, involves conflict between competing motives/desires. Nothing to restrain if there is no conflicting desire. Conflicting desires are temporally asymmetric (small reward now, larger later: phenomenologically effortful, even aversive; based on executive function (inhibition, distinct from self-regulation (planning, goal-setting, habits) Hofmann et al 2012: ask what people desire in the moment by texting them 7 times during a day, answer questions about what they"re feeling/thinking about right now. Does it conflict with personal goals: looks at kinds of desires that can lead people astray, or stress out, desire strength (x) plotted against desire & goal conflict (y) Darker the pie = probability of self-control failure: frequent desires: sleeping, eating, drinking, strongest desires: sleep, sex, hygiene. Weakest: alcohol and tobacco: most conflict: leisure/socialize, spending/saving, sleep, self-control failure: media use, work. Willpower & self-control contributes to human welfare: willpower to change ourselves/society in small or large ways.
