Willpower: not a limited resource?

Jess_Riedel

Stanford Report has a university public press release about a recent paper [subscription required] in Psychological Science. The paper is available for free from a website of one of the authors.

The gist is that they find evidence against the (currently fashionable) hypothesis that willpower is an expendable resource. Here is the leader:

Veronika Job, Carol S. Dweck, and Gregory M. Walton
Stanford University

Abstract:

Much recent research suggests that willpower—the capacity to exert self-control—is a limited resource that is depleted after exertion. We propose that whether depletion takes place or not depends on a person’s belief about whether willpower is a limited resource. Study 1 found that individual differences in lay theories about willpower moderate ego-depletion effects: People who viewed the capacity for self-control as not limited did not show diminished self-control after a depleting experience. Study 2 replicated the effect, manipulating lay theories about willpower. Study 3 addressed questions about the mechanism underlying the effect. Study 4, a longitudinal field study, found that theories about willpower predict change in eating behavior, procrastination, and self-regulated goal striving in depleting circumstances. Taken together, the findings suggest that reduced self-control after a depleting task or during demanding periods may reflect people’s beliefs about the availability of willpower rather than true resource depletion.

(HT: Brashman, as posted on HackerNews.)

Stanford Report has a university public press release about a recent paper [subscription required] in Psychological Science. The paper is available for free from a website of one of the authors.

The gist is that they find evidence against the (currently fashionable) hypothesis that willpower is an expendable resource. Here is the leader:

Veronika Job, Carol S. Dweck, and Gregory M. Walton
Stanford University

Abstract:

Much recent research suggests that willpower—the capacity to exert self-control—is a limited resource that is depleted after exertion. We propose that whether depletion takes place or not depends on a person’s belief about whether willpower is a limited resource. Study 1 found that individual differences in lay theories about willpower moderate ego-depletion effects: People who viewed the capacity for self-control as not limited did not show diminished self-control after a depleting experience. Study 2 replicated the effect, manipulating lay theories about willpower. Study 3 addressed questions about the mechanism underlying the effect. Study 4, a longitudinal field study, found that theories about willpower predict change in eating behavior, procrastination, and self-regulated goal striving in depleting circumstances. Taken together, the findings suggest that reduced self-control after a depleting task or during demanding periods may reflect people’s beliefs about the availability of willpower rather than true resource depletion.

(HT: Brashman, as posted on HackerNews.)

I've never heard of willpower depletion. I've heard people say that they don't have enough willpower, but not that they're out of willpower. Surely willpower is a long-term stat like CON, not an diminishable resource like HP.

I've never thought that I've had much willpower (possibly a nocebo effect originally generalised from a few early cases?). But on those occasions where I have used my willpower, this has always made subsequent uses easier. I can't imagine using it up.

But on those occasions where I have used my willpower, this has always made subsequent uses easier. I can't imagine using it up.

Maybe you leveled up.

3Jess_Riedel16y

In fact, previous research has shown that it is a lot like HP in many situations. See the citations near the beginning of the article.

39

Willpower: not a limited resource?

39

39

39

Willpower: not a limited resource?

39

39