Implicit Theories About Willpower Predict Subjective Well‐Being

Abstract

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.

Lay theories of willpower

“…When these willpower theories are measured, rather than manipulated, they are based on a self‐reported scale consisting of six items: three items that ask about whether strenuous mental activity is fatiguing (e.g., “After a strenuous mental activity, your energy is depleted and you must rest to get it refueled again.”) and three reverse‐scored items about whether strenuous mental activity fuels itself (e.g., “After a strenuous mental activity, you feel energized for further challenging activities”; Job et al, ). These beliefs are assumed to be implicit, not because they are measured implicitly, but because people do not regularly think about their theories or about how their theories are informing their decisions and behavior (Bernecker, Herrmann, Brandstätter, & Job, ). While this article frequently refers to limited and nonlimited theorists as if the scale is dichotomous, these theories are measured as a continuous variable—someone could have strong or weak beliefs in a limited or nonlimited willpower resource (experimental manipulations of lay theories usually do use two conditions, presenting a limited versus nonlimited theory).…”

“…Willpower theories are also distinct from trait self‐control, which reflects how successful people typically are in exerting self‐control (as assessed by items such as “I'm good at resisting temptations”; Tangney, Baumeister, & Boone, ). Since, as we will outline below, implicit theories about willpower predict how successful people are in exerting self‐control in their everyday life, it is not surprising that implicit theories about willpower are positively correlated with trait self‐control, between r = .17 and r = .40 (Bernecker et al, ; Job et al, ). However, they are conceptually separate constructs with trait self‐control reflecting past self‐control success and willpower theories reflecting peoples believes about the nature of self‐control capacity.…”

“…Appropriate goal pursuit and healthy lifestyles can both have secondary effects on subjective well‐being (Okun, Stock, Haring, & Witter, ; Penedo & Dahn, ; Riediger & Freund, ). Given that limited willpower theories seem to limit the obtainment of these positive behaviors, it is unsurprising that limited willpower theories are also related to poorer subjective well‐being and more negative affective states, particularly during times of higher demands (Bernecker et al, ). Students with more limited willpower theories reported lower subjective well‐being 6 months later (Study 1; Bernecker et al, ), and willpower theories particularly predicted subjective well‐being during an exam period (Study 2).…”

“…Given that limited willpower theories seem to limit the obtainment of these positive behaviors, it is unsurprising that limited willpower theories are also related to poorer subjective well‐being and more negative affective states, particularly during times of higher demands (Bernecker et al, ). Students with more limited willpower theories reported lower subjective well‐being 6 months later (Study 1; Bernecker et al, ), and willpower theories particularly predicted subjective well‐being during an exam period (Study 2). Lower subjective well‐being was mediated by the limited theorists having less effective goal striving (Study 3; Bernecker et al, ).…”

I believe, therefore I am: Effects of self-control beliefs on behavioral and electrophysiological markers of inhibitory and emotional attention control

“…In a longitudinal study on students, holding a limited resource theory about self-control was associated with more procrastination, unhealthy eating habits and impulsive money spending, and lower efficiency and grades (Job, Walton, Bernecker, & Dweck, 2015). A limited resource theory is also associated with actual lower self-control and subjective well-being (Bernecker, Herrmann, Brandstätter, & Job, 2015). Similarly, lay theories about self-control influence how many personal goals are strived for by an individual as well as their actual achievement (Mukhopadhyay & Johar, 2005), and the belief that one is able to successfully complete a specific task (i.e., self-efficacy; Bandura, 1977) was found to be predictive of weight loss (Weinberg, Hughes, Critelli, England, & Jackson, 1984) and interest in attractive others when engaged in a long-term relationship (Hamburg & Pronk, 2015).…”