How Reliable Are the Effects of Self-control Training?: A Re-examination Using Self-report and Physical Measures

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2017 Jun 9

PMID 28594933

Citations 2

Authors

Brian M Lee

Markus Kemmelmeier

Affiliations

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Abstract

In light of recent challenges to the strength model of self-control, our study re-examines the effects of self-control training on established physical and self-report measures of self-control. We also examined whether beliefs about the malleability of self-control qualify any training effects. Participants in the training condition were assigned to increase use of their non-dominant hand for two weeks, and did comply mainly if they held high-malleability beliefs; yet, compared to a control condition, the physical measure of self-control did not improve. This was also evident in a secondary objective measure of self-control, a Stroop task, as well as in self-reported self-control. The discussion focuses on the lack of replication of training effects on self-control.

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