Self-control

Habits of Freedom: John Dewey and the Art of Education

by Cherilyn Keall

Doctoral dissertation (University of Guelph, 2010)

This thesis is an investigation of the relationship among education, human nature, human culture, and human freedom.... more This thesis is an investigation of the relationship among education, human nature, human culture, and human freedom. The basic idea behind the thesis is that education is essential to realizing our freedom, where freedom is conceived positively rather than merely negatively. Specifically, through an analysis of John Dewey's view of human nature, I show that human culture is a necessary but not sufficient condition for human freedom. A surprising corollary of this argument about the relationship between human nature and human freedom is that, if left to run its natural course, human culture in fact tends not to enable but rather to preclude human freedom. Hence, there are very specific cultural practices—habits acquired through education—that are required if we are to realize our freedom. Through an analysis of the interrelationship among Dewey's conceptions of habit, growth, and mind, I show that the habits of growth that must be acquired if we are to realize our freedom are primarily habits of mind. I then examine three specific categories of habits of mind that I contend are necessary but not sufficient for human fulfilment, namely, habits of self-knowledge, self-control, and meaningful self-expression. The development of such habits is not sufficient for human fulfilment, because it is impossible to account for the contingent objective conditions that one encounters over the course of living. However, the development of such habits is necessary for human fulfilment, because, without such habits, we cannot partake in the kind of adaptive change that constitutes an effective response to our ever-changing physical and social environments.

Training self-control: A domain-general translational neuroscience approach

by Elliot Berkman

With Alice Graham and Phil Fisher in Child Development Perspectives

Self-control plays an important role in healthy development and has been shown to be amenable to intervention. We... more Self-control plays an important role in healthy development and has been shown to be amenable to intervention. We present a theoretical framework for the emerging area of “brain- training” interventions that includes both laboratory-based direct training methods and ecologically-valid school, family, and community based interventions. Although these approaches have proliferated in recent years, the evidence based to support them is just beginning to emerge, and conceptual models underlying many of the techniques tend to be underspecified and imprecise. Identifying the neural systems responsible for improvements in self-control may be of tremendous benefit not only for overall intervention efficacy, but also for basic science issues related to underlying shared biological mechanisms of psychopathology. Here, we review the neurodevelopment of self-control and explore its implications for theory, intervention, and prevention. We then present a neurally informed framework for understanding self-control development and change, and discuss how this may inform future intervention strategies for individuals suffering with psychopathology or drug abuse/dependence, as well as implications for young children with delays in cognitive and emotional functioning.

In the trenches of real-world self-control: Neural correlates of breaking the link between craving and smoking

by Elliot Berkman

with Falk & Lieberman in Psych Sci

Successful goal pursuit involves repeatedly engaging self-control against temptations or distractions that arise along... more Successful goal pursuit involves repeatedly engaging self-control against temptations or distractions that arise along the way. Laboratory studies have identified the brain systems recruited during isolated instances of self-control and ecological studies have linked self-control capacity to goal outcomes. However, no study has identified the neural systems of everyday self-control during long-term goal pursuit. The present study integrates neuroimaging and experience-sampling methods to investigate the brain systems of successful self-control among smokers attempting to quit. A sample of twenty-seven cigarette smokers completed a go/no-go task during functional magnetic resonance imaging before cessation, then reported everyday self- control using experience-sampling eight times daily for three weeks during quitting. Increased activation in right inferior frontal gyrus, presupplementary motor area, and basal ganglia regions- of-interest during response inhibition at baseline was associated with an attenuated association between cravings and subsequent smoking, supporting the ecological validity of neurocognitive tasks to everyday response inhibition.

If you are able to control yourself, I will trust you: The role of perceived self-control in interpersonal trust.

by Francesca Righetti

Jasinska_Ramamoorthy_Crew_JNeurosci_2011

by Agnes Jasinska

Jasinska_Ramamoorthy_Crew_JNeurosci_2011

by Agnes Jasinska

Encountering the fairtrade farmer: solidarity, stereotypes and the self control ethos

by Jayne Raisborough

Adams and Raisborough (2011) Papers on Social Representations

Recent research in social psychology has identified a specific social representation, the
‘self-control ethos’,... more Recent research in social psychology has identified a specific social representation, the
‘self-control ethos’, which is constituted through neo-liberal virtues of self-management,
reliance and discipline. This functions to mark an ‘ingroup’ through its allegiance to core
values and behaviours, from an ‘outgroup’, forged through a perceived ‘lack’ or rejection
of those values and further, serves as a basis for the denigration of outgroups. However,
recent developments in mainstream social psychological theories of stereotype content
have developed a model of prejudicial intergroup relations as ambivalent, involving both
negative and positive content. In this paper we maintain an emphasis on the self-control
ethos but depart from an emphasis upon denigration to focus on a particular outgroup –
the fairtrade farmer/producer. We argue that developments in social representations
theory and mainstream social psychology can both contribute to a deeper understanding
of this particular example of a cultural encounter apparently engendering social
solidarity. Recent social psychological models of stereotype content contribute an
important emphasis upon ambivalence based on perceived structural relationships in the
representations of outgroups. However the self-control ethos allows an understanding of
the visual, symbolic and affective work involved in making solidarity with a ‘distant’
outgroup a possibility. Finally we claim that although representations of fairtrade
farmers/producers ostensibly become the vehicle for a progressive cultural encounter, the
forms of solidarity it encourages require critical scrutiny.

Life-Course Transitions, Self-Control and Desistance from Crime

by Walter Forrest

Co-authored with Carter Hay. Forthcoming in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

In recent years a number of studies have observed empirical associations between the occurrence of key life events... more In recent years a number of studies have observed empirical associations between the occurrence of key life events such as marriage, employment, and military service, and desistance from crime. The relationships between these life-course transitions and changes in criminal behaviour have been cited as evidence in support of social control and social learning theories of delinquency and in contradiction to alternative theoretical perspectives that downplay the significance of life events in the development of criminal behaviour over the lifespan. In this paper we develop and test an alternative explanation for the apparent impact of marriage on criminal and delinquent behaviour. We argue that transitions such as marriage might also promote desistance, in part, by enabling offenders to develop and exercise increased self-control. We then test this hypothesis using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) and explore the implications of our findings for the study of desistance and for self-control theory.

Stability and Change in Risk Seeking: Investigating the Effects of an Intervention Program

by Walter Forrest

Co-authored with Carter Hay, Ryan Meldrum, and Emily Ciaravolo. Published in Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 2010.

Although much is known about the consequences of low self-control, little is known about how it develops during... more Although much is known about the consequences of low self-control, little is known about how it develops during adolescence and what types of experiences trigger important changes. This study considers this by examining a key component of low self-control—risk-seeking propensity—to determine its stability and change during early adolescence, its effects on changes in delinquency, and its responsiveness to a comprehensive delinquency-reduction program. These issues were examined with data from the Children at Risk (CAR) program, a randomly assigned intervention that targeted early adolescents. The analysis revealed substantial stability in risk seeking, but there was evidence of change as well, and these changes were associated with contemporaneous changes in delinquency. Risk-seeking changes were not, however, a result of participation in the CAR program, despite that program’s success at reducing some forms of delinquency. The theoretical and policy implications of these findings are addressed.

Staying on and Getting Back on the Wagon: Age-Related Improvement in Self-Regulation During a Low-Calorie Diet

by Marie Hennecke

In the present study, we investigated whether self-regulation improves across adulthood, especially regarding the... more In the present study, we investigated whether self-regulation improves across adulthood, especially regarding the mastery of setbacks and failure in an important health-related behavior, namely, staying on a low-calorie diet when overweight. Overweight women (N = 126; 19–77 years of age, M = 47.2) filled out weekly questionnaires on the outcomes of behavioral, emotional, and cognitive self-regulation duringa dieting program; outcomes included deviations from the diet, weight loss, affect, and rumination. Confirming hypotheses, multilevel analyses revealed that—even after controlling for prior dietingattempts—age was associated with better self-reported self-regulation (i.e., fewer deviations from the diet, lower disinhibition and rumination after failure, and higher affective well-being) but not with more weight loss. Results suggest that self-regulation improves with age and shows positive effects on subjective indicators of successfully coping with setbacks but does not directly influence the target outcome weight loss.

Self-Control Theory and the Concept of Opportunity: The Case for a More Systematic Union

by Walter Forrest

Co-authored with Carter Hay. Published in Criminology, 2008.

The purpose of this study is to advance the idea that low self-control—one of the strongest known predictors of... more The purpose of this study is to advance the idea that low self-control—one of the strongest known predictors of crime—likely has effects that are conditional on the supply of criminal opportunities. Some scholars initially interpreted the theory to make this exact prediction, but Gottfredson and Hirschi (2003) have rejected this interpretation. They have insisted that the simplistic nature of most crimes ensures that opportunities are limitless and that variation in opportunity simply reflects variation in self-control. We trace the history of this uncertain position of opportunity in self-control theory and argue that it should play a significant role in the theory, even if Gottfredson and Hirschi did not originally envision this. Next, we draw on routine activities theory and applications of it to individual offending to offer a theoretical statement of how opportunity should be incorporated into self-control theory. Last, using data from a national sample of juveniles, we test the arguments that have been made. The analysis suggests that the effects of low self-control on delinquency partially depend on the availability of criminal opportunities, as indicated by the time juveniles spend with their friends or away from the supervision of their parents.

The Development of Self-Control: Examining Self-Control Theory's Stability Thesis

by Walter Forrest

Co-authored with Carter Hay. Published in Criminology, 2006.

Research on self-control theory consistently supports its central prediction that low self-control significantly... more Research on self-control theory consistently supports its central prediction that low self-control significantly affects crime. The theory includes other predictions, however, that have received far less scrutiny. Among these is the argument that self-control is developed early in childhood and that individual differences emerging then persist over time. The purpose of this study is to provide a rigorous test of the stability thesis. First, we examine the extent of stability and change in self-control for a national sample of U.S. children age 7 to age 15. Second, we consider whether parenting continues to affect self-control during adolescence—a period after the point at which self-control differences should be fixed. The analysis revealed strong absolute and relative stability of self-control for more than 80 percent of the sample, and this stability emerged in large part as early as age 7. Contradicting the theory was a smaller portion of respondents (roughly 16 percent) who experienced substantial absolute and relative changes in self-control even after the age of 10. Moreover, parental socialization continued to affect self-control during adolescence, even after accounting for both prior self-control and exposure to parental socialization.

Ego depletion reduces proselfs' concern with the well-being of others

by Daniel Balliet

Balliet, D., & Joireman, J. (2010). Ego depletion reduces proselfs’ concern with the well-being of others. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 13, 227-239.

Previous research suggests that people predisposed toward a more cooperative orientation are stronger at self-control... more Previous research suggests that people predisposed toward a more cooperative orientation are stronger at self-control and, accordingly, are better able to ward off the adverse impact of ego depletion on self-regulation (Seeley & Gardner, 2003). Building on this research, we tested the hypothesis that ego depletion would lead to a reduction in concern with the well-being of others among proselfs, but not among prosocials. Study 1 supported the basic proposition that prosocials are higher than proselfs in trait self-control. In Study 2, participants originally classified as prosocials versus proselfs based on mathematical games engaged in an ego depletion task or a control task and later completed a similar measure of prosocial versus proself values. Supporting the primary hypothesis, ego depletion reduced proselfs concern with the well-being of others at time 2, but had no impact among prosocials. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Consideration of future consequences, ego-depletion, and self-control: Support for distinguishing between CFC-Immediate and CFC-Future sub-scales

by Daniel Balliet

Joireman, J., Balliet, D., Sprott, D., Spangenberg, E., & Schultz, J. (2008). Ego
depletion, consideration of future consequences, and decision-making preferences: Implications for the self-regulation of behavior. Personality and Individual Differences, 45, 15-21

We examine how individual differences in the consideration of future consequences (Strathman et al., 1994) impact... more We examine how individual differences in the consideration of future consequences (Strathman et al., 1994) impact trait self-control, and temporal discounting under conditions of ego-depletion. Study 1 (N = 986) reveals that the CFC scale contains two underlying factors, which can be labeled the CFC-Immediate (CFC-I) and CFC-Future (CFC-F) sub-scales. Supporting the distinction between the two sub-scales, Study 2 (N = 147) shows that lower levels of trait self-control are best predicted by higher levels of CFC-I (not CFC-F), while Study 3 (N = 104) reveals that ego-depletion leads to more temporal discounting only among those high in CFC-I. Future use of the two sub-scales is encouraged.

Conscientiousness and forgivingness: A meta-analysis

by Daniel Balliet

Balliet, D. (2010). Conscientiousness and forgivingness: A meta-analysis. Personality and Individual Differences, 48, 259-263.

Research examining the relationship between the Big Five traits and forgivingness has focused primarily on the traits... more Research examining the relationship between the Big Five traits and forgivingness has focused primarily on the traits agreeableness and neuroticism. To date, there are mixed findings on the relationship between conscientiousness and forgivingness. This paper presents research and theory that predicts a positive relationship between conscientiousness and forgivingness, and in order to examine this hypothesis, conducts a quantitative review of 15 studies (n = 2285) reporting this relationship. This analysis results in a small positive effect size (r = .17). Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Considering future consequences: An integrative model

by Daniel Balliet

Joireman, J., Strathman, A., & Balliet, D. (2006). Considering future consequences: An integrative model. In L.J. Sanna, & E.C. Chang, (Eds.). Judgments over time: The interplay of thoughts, feelings, and behavior (pp. 82-99). Oxford University Press, New York.

Many decisions pose a conflict between the immediate and delayed consequences of an action (e.g., safe sex,... more Many decisions pose a conflict between the immediate and delayed consequences of an action (e.g., safe sex, aggression, proenvironmental behavior). Recent research indicates that people differ in their approach to such temporal dilemmas, with some attaching more importance to the immediate consequences of behavior, and others attaching more importance to the delayed consequences of behavior. This chapter reviews the literature on individual differences in the consideration of future consequences (CFC) (Strathman et al., 1994) and propose a new model of the antecedents and consequences of CFC. The integrative model brings together work on broad dimensions of personality, temporal construal, temporal discounting, delay of gratification, and self-regulation, and suggests a number of directions for future research.

Relating Trait Self-Control and Forgiveness within Prosocials and Proselfs: Compensatory versus Synergistic Models

by Daniel Balliet

Balliet, D., Li, N. P., & Joireman, J. (in press) Relating trait self-control and forgiveness among prosocials and proselfs: A test of compensatory and synergistic models. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

The present research tests two competing models specifying how two traits (concern with the well-being of others and... more The present research tests two competing models specifying how two traits (concern with the well-being of others and self-control) interact to predict forgiveness. According to the compensatory model, forgiveness requires being high on either trait; according to the synergistic model, forgiveness requires being high on both traits. Two preliminary studies demonstrate the main effect of trait (Study 1a) and primed (Study 1b) self-control on forgiveness. Three primary studies consistently support the compensatory model in predicting willingness to forgive a partner who behaves non-cooperatively in a two-alternative prisoner’s dilemma (Study 2), a continuous give some dilemma (Study 3), and a two-alternative maximizing difference game (Study 4). Among proselfs or those low in trait forgiveness, trait self-control positively relates to forgiveness, suggesting that self-control can compensate for a lack of concern with others’ well-being. Implications for theory and research on forgiveness are discussed.

The Conception of Liberty Through the Ages

by Eric Gallager

A combination of three papers I wrote the first semester of my Politics and Values class freshman year with professor Steven Kelts and teaching assistant Richie Wilcox. Each chapter was originally its own paper; this paper just added an extra introduction and conclusion, while smoothing out the transitions between the papers.

In this paper I look at changing conceptions of liberty by examining the views of Aristotle, Machiavelli, and then... more In this paper I look at changing conceptions of liberty by examining the views of Aristotle, Machiavelli, and then Locke and Madison. I compare and contrast their views on ethics, then their views on relations between people, then the political structures they propose. I argue that the change in views on liberty began with changes in ideas of self-control leading up to Machiavelli, but the Liberal view did not replace the Republican view until Locke and Madison espoused new ideas about the state of nature emphasizing individual property rights.

The normative sciences, the sign universe, self-control and rationality–according to Peirce

by Bent Sørensen

Co-authored with Thellefsen, T., published in "Cosmos and History" (2010).

Abstract:

Although Charles S. Peirce, strictly speaking, never formulated a ‘full-blown’ normative... more Abstract:

Although Charles S. Peirce, strictly speaking, never formulated a ‘full-blown’ normative theory—a single over-all architectonic system—we believe that there lies within his work a valuable sketch of the ideal for feeling, action, and thought, and how this ideal should be followed, and in connection to this, Peirce offered a model for rational behaviour, including self-control. In the following essay we will try, modestly, to draw a rough outline of this sketch. Firstly, we will focus on the three normative sciences, their relationship and their task of finding out how feeling, action and thought ought to be controlled. Then, we will take a look at the sign-universe. The very universe is a sign-universe and within this evolutionary universe feeling, matter and thought incessantly melt together into ‘concrete reasonableness’; according to Peirce, rendering the world more reasonable. This is the Summum Bonum that man can and indeed should pursue. Hence it makes absolutely no sense to speak of the three normative sciences out of this metaphysical or cosmological context. Finally, we will try to see in what way rationality can be said to fall within the spheres of self-control, bearing in mind that self-control is directly related to conditional purpose.

Keywords: Charles S. Peirce; Metaphysics; Summum Bonum; Normative Sciences