Whatever happened to self-control?: A proposal for integrating notions from trait self-control studies into state self-control research

Abstract

In this article we discuss recent findings in trait self-control research suggesting that successful self-control may rely on either handling the self-control dilemma in a smart and effortless way or on the effortfully inhibiting an immediate urge or an unwanted response. We then contrast these results with findings from ego-depletion research on state self-control that up to now has focused on merely (consequences of) effortful inhibition. In doing so, we aim to shift the focus of recent debate about the underlying mechanisms of the ego-depletion phenomenon to the broader and more important question of how successful self-control operates. Specifically, we emphasize that dealing with personally relevant dilemmas or conflicts is often absent from the ego-depletion paradigm, which is crucial for understanding why and how people are able and willing to prioritize a higher ultimate goal. We first discuss the key role for handling self-control dilemmas in trait self-control research. Subsequently, we discuss how self-control dilemmas are seemingly absent from ego-depletion paradigms and then suggest future directions for self-control research.