Research has shown that self-regulation is depletable. Here are some studies that show that inducing a positive affect in people can restore their self-control strength. The positive mood stimuli included getting an unexpected gift or watching a comedy video. Abstract:
Previous work has shown that acts of self-regulation appear to deplete a psychological resource, resulting in poorer self-regulation subsequently. Four experiments using assorted manipulations and measures found that positive mood or emotion can counteract ego depletion. After an initial act of self-regulation, participants who watched a comedy video or received a surprise gift self-regulated on various tasks as well as non-depleted participants and significantly better than participants who experienced a sad mood induction, a neutral mood stimulus, or a brief rest period.
Do you know what causes in you a positive mood? Might be a good idea to have it around when you just can't seem to get back to work. Or resist that next piece of candy. Or listen instead of drift off.
From the conclusion:
In conclusion, the capacity of the self to exert control over itself, make choices, initiate behavior, and perform other acts of volition is one of its most important functions of the self as well as being highly adaptive. This function is however fairly costly, insofar as it depletes some psychological resource. In many circumstances, people can avoid expending these resources by relying on automatic processes, but sometimes it is necessary or desirable to use the more costly controlled process—whereupon the self is left in a depleted and hence vulnerable state afterward. Although the present results are preliminary, they do suggest one antidote for this weakened state: A dose of positive affect seems to have remarkable power to restore the self’s capacity and willingness to exert control and volition. ...
Note: Use this form to get a free copy of the article which reported on the studies. It is called "Restoring the self: Positive affect helps improve self-regulation following ego depletion."
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