Self-regulation failure (Part 2): Willpower is like a muscle | Psychology Today Blogs

Self-regulation failure (Part 2): Willpower is like a muscle Psychology Today Blogs


Psychology Today
By Timothy A. Pychyl, Ph.D. on February 23, 2009 - 8:00pm in Don't Delay
Self-regulation failure (Part 2):
Willpower is like a muscle

Excerpts:

Willpower is like a muscleBased on these studies, Baumeister and colleagues have concluded that willpower is like a muscle. It can be fatigued with use, so that it can not perform indefinitely.

Implications: Self-regulation comes with a cost, and we can only self-regulate so much at any one time. Although willpower is one of those "invisible" sorts of concepts (unlike muscles which seem to reveal strength more visibly by size), it still has limits.

Of course, drawing on this metaphor that willpower is like a muscle, it would make sense that we should be able to develop this muscle's strength. There are a number of studies that indicate just that. For example, as Matthew Gailloit has summarized (see reference below), there is evidence that even 2-weeks of self-regulation through continuously maintaining good posture improved performance in the kind of experiments discussed above. This little bit of self-regulatory exercise seems to strengthen the willpower muscle.

Read Full Article: http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/dont-delay/200902/self-regulation-failure-part-2-willpower-is-muscle

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This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.