Beliefs about willpower moderate the effect of previous day demands on next day’s expectations and effective goal striving

Bernecker, Katharina; Job, Veronika

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01496

Cited by 29 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 30 publications

(60 reference statements)

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“…Further, willpower theories were positively associated with stress at the person and day level: Students with more of a limited theory reported more stress than students with a non‐limited theory. However, according to convention the effect sizes were small and previous studies did not find significant associations between stress and willpower theories (Bernecker & Job, ; Job, Walton, et al ., ), suggesting that these effects may also be due to random error. Last, trait self‐control was negatively correlated with evening chronotype—people with higher trait self‐control were more likely to categorize themselves as morning types.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…For instance, studies found that in the final, demanding phase of the term students with a limited theory procrastinate more on their classwork, eat less healthy, and regulate emotions less well than students with a non‐limited theory (Job, Walton, et al ., ; Job et al ., ). Along these lines, another field study tested the idea that beliefs about willpower may also predict whether stress experienced in a day may affect people's self‐regulatory capacity the following day (Bernecker & Job, ). Against the expectation that people with a limited theory show less efficient goal striving after a stressful day, it were people with a non‐limited theory who were striving more efficiently for their goals after stressful days (Bernecker & Job, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Along these lines, another field study tested the idea that beliefs about willpower may also predict whether stress experienced in a day may affect people's self‐regulatory capacity the following day (Bernecker & Job, ). Against the expectation that people with a limited theory show less efficient goal striving after a stressful day, it were people with a non‐limited theory who were striving more efficiently for their goals after stressful days (Bernecker & Job, ). Thus, it seems that stress experienced over the course of a day may also have positive effects on self‐regulation for people who endorse a non‐limited theory.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Too exhausted to go to bed: Implicit theories about willpower and stress predict bedtime procrastination

Bernecker

Job

2019

British J of Psychology

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While most people are aware of the importance of sleep for their health, well-being, and performance, bedtime procrastination is a pervasive phenomenon that can be conceptualized as a case of self-control failure (Kroese et al., Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 2014, 1). Two daily diary studies (N 1 = 185, N 2 = 137) investigated beliefs about willpower and stress as interactive predictors of bedtime procrastination. Beliefs about willpower capture whether people think of their willpower as limited resource that gets easily depleted (limited theory) or as something that remains regardless of previous acts of selfcontrol (non-limited theory). Results show that after a stressful day, people with a limited versus non-limited theory procrastinate more on going to bed, while there is no difference in bedtime procrastination on less stressful days. Thus, ironically, limited theorists who should be more concerned with recovering their resources after a stressful day sleep less the following night.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Too exhausted to go to bed: Implicit theories about willpower and stress predict bedtime procrastination

Bernecker

Job

2019

British J of Psychology

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“…In one study, students with limited willpower theories reported less self‐regulation in regard to a personal goal during an exam period, while students with nonlimited willpower theories maintained their goal pursuit (Study 4; Job et al, ). This interaction between willpower theories and demand levels was replicated in a daily diary study, which found that students with limited willpower theories also had less effective goal pursuit on the days after a demanding day (Bernecker & Job, ). Nonlimited willpower theorists, meanwhile, reported more effective goal striving on the days following a demanding day.…”

Section: Everyday Outcomes Of Willpower Theoriesmentioning

confidence: 81%

Lay theories of willpower

Francis

Job

2018

Social & Personality Psych

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Some people believe that willpower relies on a limited resource and that performing cognitive work (such as using self-control) results in mental fatigue. Others believe that willpower is nonlimited and that performing cognitive work instead prepares and energizes them for more. These differing lay theories of willpower determine whether or not one's self-control performance actually does decrease or increase after use, with only limited willpower theorists showing a decrease (the ego depletion effect). Due to the self-control requirements of everyday life, willpower theories also predict outcomes across domains of academics, health, goal progress, interpersonal relationships, and well-being. Generally, limited willpower theorists' belief in their limited capacity results in poorer outcomes, particularly during times of high demand. By understanding how willpower theories form and function, interventions that encourage nonlimited willpower theories may be created to improve people's performance and well-being.

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“… The study also included measures for morning expectations which are not of interest here. Data are published in Bernecker & Job ().…”

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confidence: 99%

Implicit Theories About Willpower Predict Subjective Well‐Being

Bernecker

Herrmann

Brandstätter

et al. 2015

Journal of Personality

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Lay theories about willpower-the belief that willpower is a limited versus nonlimited resource-affect self-control and goal striving in everyday life (Job, Dweck, & Walton, 2010). Three studies examined whether willpower theories also relate to people's subjective well-being by shaping the progress they make toward their personal goals. A cross-sectional (Study 1) and two longitudinal studies (Studies 2 and 3) measured individuals' willpower theories and different indicators of subjective well-being. Additionally, Study 3 measured goal striving and personal goal progress. A limited theory about willpower was associated with lower subjective well-being in a sample of working adults (Study 1, N = 258). Further, a limited theory predicted lower levels of well-being at a time when students faced high self-regulatory demands (Study 2, N = 196). Study 3 (N = 157) replicated the finding that students with a limited theory experienced lower well-being in phases of high self-regulatory demands and found that personal goal progress mediated this relationship. Results suggest that the belief that willpower is based on a limited resource has negative implications not only for self-control but also for personal goal striving and subjective well-being.

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Beliefs about willpower moderate the effect of previous day demands on next day’s expectations and effective goal striving

Cited by 29 publications

References 30 publications

Too exhausted to go to bed: Implicit theories about willpower and stress predict bedtime procrastination

Too exhausted to go to bed: Implicit theories about willpower and stress predict bedtime procrastination

Lay theories of willpower

Implicit Theories About Willpower Predict Subjective Well‐Being

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