Nick Hobson, a research psychologist in the University of Toronto, conducted 3 studies which allows us to reach a conclusion that the perception of self-control and the extent of self-control one has is correlated.
Following a more difficult task, participants were more likely to perceive self-control as an exhaustive resource, as compared to after an easy task. When we perceive self-control as exhaustive, it makes us more vulnerable to temptations around us. This results in instances such as "cheat days" where dieters experience a lapse in their strict diet plan. This "cheat day" is experienced as a result of their perception of self-control.
Comparing seemingly difficult to seemingly easy tasks, people experience a lower perception of self-control on the former. Thus, this finding suggests that a shift in perception of self-control can affect actual self-control, and we can acquire more self-control if we view tasks as easy and control as non-exhaustive.
Category(s):Control Issues, Self-Doubt
Source material from Psychology Today
