Being active and impulsive: the role of goals for action and inaction in self-control

Although self-control often requires behavioral inaction (i.e., not eating a piece of cake), the process of inhibiting impulsive behavior is commonly characterized as extremely cognitively active (i.e., actively exerting self-control). Two experiments examined whether motivation for action or inaction facilitates self-control behavior in the presence of tempting stimuli. Experiment 1 used a delay discounting task to assess the ability to delay gratification with respect to money. Experiment 2 used a Go/No-Go task to assess the ability to inhibit a dominant but incorrect motor response to the words “condom” and “sex”. The results demonstrate that general goals for inaction promote self-control, whereas general goals for action promote impulsive behavior. These findings are discussed in light of recent evidence suggesting that goals for action and inaction modulate physiological resources that promote behavioral execution.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• Hepler, Justin

Contributors dc:contributor

• Albarracin, Dolores

• Action
• delay discounting
• go/no-go
• impulsivity
• inaction
• self-control

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2010 Justin J. Helpler

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/16770

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/16770