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Does self-control improve with practice? Evidence from a 6-week training program

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posted on 2023-06-09, 01:14 authored by Eleanor MilesEleanor Miles, Paschal Sheeran, Harriet Baird, Ian Macdonald, Thomas L Webb, Pete HarrisPete Harris
Can self-control be improved through practice? Several studies have found that repeated practice of tasks involving self-control improves performance on other tasks relevant to self-control. However, in many of these studies, improvements after training could be attributable to methodological factors (e.g., passive control conditions). Moreover, the extent to which the effects of training transfer to real-life settings is not yet clear. In the present research, participants (N = 174) completed a 6-week training program of either cognitive or behavioral self-control tasks. We then tested the effects of practice on a range of measures of self-control, including lab-based and real-world tasks. Training was compared to both active and no-contact control conditions. Despite high levels of adherence to the training tasks, there was no effect of training on any measure of self-control. Trained participants did not, for example, show reduced ego depletion effects, become better at overcoming their habits, or report exerting more self-control in everyday life. Moderation analyses found no evidence that training was effective only among particular groups of participants. Bayesian analyses suggested that the data was more consistent with a null effect of training on self-control than with previous estimates of the effect of practice. The implication is that training self-control through repeated practice does not result in generalized improvements in self-control.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Journal of Experimental Psychology: General

ISSN

0096-3445

Publisher

American Psychological Association

Issue

8

Volume

145

Page range

1075-1091

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-05-16

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2016-08-10

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2016-05-13

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