Overriding “Doing Wrong” and “Not Doing Right”: Validation of the Dispositional Self-Control Scale (DSC)

Abstract

We present the Dispositional Self-Control (DSC) Scale, which reflects individuals' tendency to override 2 types of temptations, termed doing wrong and not doing right. We report a series of 5 studies designed to test the reliability and validity of the scale. As hypothesized, high DSC predicts distant future orientation and low DSC predicts deviant behaviors such as aggression, alcohol misuse, and aberrant driving. DSC also predicts task performance among resource-depleted participants. Taken together, these findings suggest that the DSC Scale could be a useful tool toward further understanding the role of personality in overcoming self-control challenges.

Lessons learned from trait self-control in well-being: making the case for routines and initiation as important components of trait self-control

“…In fact, the widely used BSCS (Tangney et al, 2004) already incorporated an initiatory component, based on the comprehensive review by Baumeister, Heatherton, and Tice (1994) that distinguishes four inhibitory components (control thoughts, emotions, impulses, and maladaptive habits) and one initiatory component (regulate performance) of self-control. Recent research on trait self-control (De Ridder, De Boer, Lugtig, Bakker, & Van Hooft, 2011;Ein-Gar & Sagiv, 2014;Hoyle & Davisson, 2016) corroborates the notion that self-control encompasses both inhibition and initiation components with self-control by inhibition involving the conscious overriding of a tendency to engage in goal-inconsistent behaviour while self-control by initiation involves consciously acting in a goal-consistent manner despite initial reluctance. Previous research on state self-control has also provided some evidence that the initiation of a desired response is an important aspect of successful performance, as is for example witnessed by studies using the Stroop task: successful completion of this task not only requires inhibition of a specific response but also to replace this response tendency with another response (Richeson & Shelton, 2003;cf.…”

The role of consumer self-control in the consumption of virtue products

“…Integrating these studies into a general theoretical framework, we suggest that self-control can be viewed as a process reflecting an inner struggle and an intentional effort that individuals invest to override the desire to perform actions or inactions that promise immediate gratification in the present, yet at the same time promote future negative outcomes. Ein-Gar and colleagues (Ein-Gar, Goldenberg, & Sagiv, 2008;Ein-Gar & Sagiv, 2011;Ein-Gar & Steinhart, 2011) have suggested that such actions can be categorized into two general types: "doing wrong" (impulsive, self-satisfying actions that harm one's future well-being, such as eating a cake while on a diet, buying products one cannot afford), and "not doing right" (actions of procrastinating about what needs to be done and thus, once again, risking one's future wellbeing, such as failing to exercise, use sunscreen or write an important paper).…”

“…For example, in a recent study, Ein-Gar and Steinhart (2011) use this scale to predict persistence in monotonous, boring tasks and to predict impulsive buying and the consumption of hedonic food. (For complete details of the scale construction and validation, see Ein-Gar et al, 2008;Ein-Gar & Sagiv, 2011;Ein-Gar & Steinhart, 2011. ) 3.1.3.2.…”

Committing under the shadow of tomorrow: Self‐control and commitment to future virtuous behaviors

“…Pretest participants underwent either the high-or the low self-control manipulation, then completed a filler task, and finally completed the Dispositional Self-Control (DSC) scale as a manipulation check. The DSC scale (Ein-Gar, Goldenberg, & Sagiv, 2008, Ein-Gar et al, 2012Ein-Gar & Sagiv, 2014;Ein-Gar & Steinhart, 2011) consists of 17 items (α = .88) measuring participants' tendency to overcome temptations or to yield to them. Participants reported their agreement with each statement on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("not at all") to 5 ("very much").…”

“…The DSC scale (Ein‐Gar et al, 2008, 2012; Ein‐Gar & Sagiv, 2014; Ein‐Gar & Steinhart, 2011) was used to measure participants' level of self‐control (α = .89).…”