Construal levels and self-control.
The authors propose that self-control involves making decisions and behaving in a manner consistent with high-level versus low-level construals of a situation. Activation of high-level construals (which capture global, superordinate, primary features of an event) should lead to greater self-control than activation of low-level construals (which capture local, subordinate, secondary features). In 6 experiments using 3 different techniques, the authors manipulated construal levels and assessed their effects on self-control and underlying psychological processes. High-level construals led to decreased preferences for immediate over delayed outcomes, greater physical endurance, stronger intentions to exert self-control, and less positive evaluations of temptations that undermine self-control. These results support a construal-level analysis of self-control.
Fujita
Kentaro
K
Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA. kf348@nyu.edu
Trope
Yaacov
Y
Liberman
Nira
N
Levin-Sagi
Maya
M
D000339:Affect; D001519:Behavior; D003071:Cognition; D003463:Cues; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students