Morality and Self-Control: How They Are Intertwined and Where They Differ

Abstract

Despite sharing conceptual overlap, morality and self-control research have led largely separate lives. In this article, we highlight neglected connections between these major areas of psychology. To this end, we first note their conceptual similarities and differences. We then show how morality research, typically emphasizing aspects of moral cognition and emotion, may benefit from incorporating motivational concepts from self-control research. Similarly, selfcontrol research may benefit from a better understanding of the moral nature of many selfcontrol domains. We place special focus on various components of self-control and on the ways in which self-control goals may be moralized.

“Food” and “non-food” self-regulation in childhood: a review and reciprocal analysis

“…However, self-control and other concepts such as delay-of-gratification, temporal discounting, inhibitory control, executive functioning, effortful control, cognitive control "have all been related to, and are often treated as synonymous with, self-regulation" ([68] p. 91). At the broadest level, self-regulation/self-control has been conceived as involving an ability, capacity or use of strategies to override or change one's inner responses such as desires or impulses, as well as to interrupt undesired behavioral tendencies and refrain from acting on them [69], "the process or behavior of overcoming a temptation or prepotent response in favor of a competing goal (either concurrent or longer term)" ([67] p. 80), or as executive processes modulating prepotent responses [68].…”

Blind Alleys of Financial Fraud

“…Although conceptually somewhat overlapping, morality and self-control research have led largely separate lives (D. Hofmann et al, 2018). The clarity on where the two meet and how the two are essentially separate is missing in the literature.…”

“…This switched the perspective in this self-control goal from a self-serving exercise to a moral issue of duty toward others. Moral intention was introduced to the idea of self-control through what D. Hofmann et al (2018) call the moralization process, a process through which preferences are converted into values, thus allowing societies to discriminate between right and wrong behavior. The process of moralization is reversible; the reverse of moralization is unmoralization, where what was once considered "ought" is not anymore considered as a commitment.…”

“…D. Hofmann et al (2018) assert that morality constraints human action, primarily by reigning in selfishness. Selfishness induces short-term gains, thus overriding any rewards far into the future.…”

Lead us not into temptation: The seven deadly sins as a taxonomy of temptations

“…Although “sin” has mostly been ignored in the psychological literature, it can be thought of as an extension of morality—a topic that has received extensive empirical attention. Morality is defined as a set of culturally transmitted norms and rules that identify “right” and “wrong” behaviors and, when followed, allow people to live together harmoniously (Baumeister & Exline, ; Hofmann, Meindl, Mooijman, & Graham, in press). One of the major purposes of morality is to constrain human action in an attempt to reduce selfish behaviors.…”