Self-regulatory failure: a resource-depletion approach.
Three studies were conducted to test the behavioral consequences of effortful self-regulation. Individuals with chronic inhibitions about eating were exposed to situations varying in level of self-regulatory demand. Subsequently, participants' ability to self-regulate was measured. Two studies manipulated self-regulatory demand by exposing participants to good-tasting snack foods, whereas a third study required participants to control their emotional expressions. As hypothesized, exerting self-control during the first task led to decrements in self-control on a subsequent task. Moreover, these effects were not due to changes in affective state and occurred only when self-control was required in the first task. These findings are explained in terms of depletion of self-regulatory resources, which impairs successful volitional control.
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Moore Hall 6207, Hanover, NH 03755, USA. vohs@dartmouth.edu
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Heatherton
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005364:Field Dependence-Independence; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D007389:Internal-External Control; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011340:Problem Solving; D013649:Taste