Citation

Williamson LZ, Wilkowski BM. Person. Soc. Psychol. Bull. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

University of Wyoming, Laramie, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0146167219883606

PMID

31658876

Abstract

Self-control is often thought to be reactive and focused solely on the inhibition of responses elicited by temptations. In two studies, we assessed whether self-control can instead (a) be planned and (b) target the antecedents of the response to temptation. We assessed self-control planning, four antecedent-focused self-control strategies (i.e., situation-selection, situation-modification, distraction, and reappraisal) and one response-focused strategy (i.e., response-inhibition). In both studies, we found that self-control planning predicted the initiation of self-control independently of temptation. Each antecedent-focused self-control strategy uniquely predicted goal-progress. Response-inhibition did not produce consistent effects on goal-progress. These studies provide evidence that people proactively initiate self-control by targeting the antecedents of temptation and that doing so supports goal-progress.

Language: en

Keywords

daily life; self-control; self-regulation; strategic self-control