title: In good company: managing interpersonal resources that support self-regulation.
abstract: Effective self-regulation could involve not only managing internal resources for goal pursuit but also the often-fleeting interpersonal resources that can support goal attainment. In five studies, we test whether people who are effective self-regulators tend to position themselves in social environments that best afford self-regulatory success. Results indicated individual differences in self-regulatory effectiveness predict stronger preferences to spend time with, collaborate with, and be informed by others who were (a) high in self-control or self-regulation themselves or (b) instrumental to one's goal pursuit. These preferences for supportive social environments appeared to be both targeted and strategic. Together, the findings suggest that effective self-regulation may involve positioning oneself in social environments that support goal pursuit and increase one's chances of success.
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia, Athens, USA mvd@uga.edu.
authors.forename: Michelle R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: vanDellen
authors.affiliation: Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: James Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: N Pontus
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Leander
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia, Athens, USA.
authors.forename: Julie E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Delose
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia, Athens, USA.
authors.forename: Jerica X
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Bornstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068356:Self-Control; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: interpersonal relationships; self-control; self-regulation