Proximate and Ultimate Causes of Ego Depletion

Francis, Zoë L.; Inzlicht, Michael

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-801850-7.00018-4

Cited by 16 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 108 publications

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“…It is also possible that the diminished FSW seen as a function of time on task is the result of a more efficient process being employed to perform the task, which countermands the need for increased control recruitment. Moreover, mental fatigue itself is a multifaceted concept (Ackerman, 1990;Francis & Inzlicht, 2016;Kool & Botvinik, 2014;Kurzban, Duckworth, Kable, & Myers, 2013) with several disparate explanations. The current data are agnostic with respect to the processes that underlie behavioral and neural indices of cognitive fatigue, which range from resource depletion (Baumeister, Vohs, & Tice, 2007), emotion and motivation shifting (Francis & Inzlicht, 2016;van der Linden, 2011), and decision-theoretic choices (Kool & Botvinik, 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, mental fatigue itself is a multifaceted concept (Ackerman, 1990;Francis & Inzlicht, 2016;Kool & Botvinik, 2014;Kurzban, Duckworth, Kable, & Myers, 2013) with several disparate explanations. The current data are agnostic with respect to the processes that underlie behavioral and neural indices of cognitive fatigue, which range from resource depletion (Baumeister, Vohs, & Tice, 2007), emotion and motivation shifting (Francis & Inzlicht, 2016;van der Linden, 2011), and decision-theoretic choices (Kool & Botvinik, 2014). Furthermore, both time on task and the number of trials performed during a task can independently contribute to fatigue (Grinband et al, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another possibility suggested by recent theories is that flagging motivation leads people to disengage from tasks that require control, which similarly can result in 1 See online supporting information for a brief discussion of alternative explanations of this effect, known more generally as the congruency sequence effect, along with analyses meant to address some of those alternative explanations. performance decrements (Braver, Krug, Chiew, Kool, & Westbrook, 2014;Francis & Inzlicht, 2016;Kool, McGuire, Rosen, & Botvinick, 2010;Kouneiher, Charron, & Koechlin, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, research has shown that both time on task (e.g., Barwick, Arnett, & Slobounov, ; Boksem, Meijman, & Lorist, ; Warm, Matthews, & Finomore, ) and previous mental effort (Hagger, Wood, Stiff, & Chatzisarantis, ) result in fatigue and impaired performance on laboratory control tasks. Another possibility suggested by recent theories is that flagging motivation leads people to disengage from tasks that require control, which similarly can result in performance decrements (Braver, Krug, Chiew, Kool, & Westbrook, ; Francis & Inzlicht, ; Kool, McGuire, Rosen, & Botvinick, ; Kouneiher, Charron, & Koechlin, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temporal dynamics of reactive cognitive control as revealed by event‐related brain potentials

2017

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Reactive cognitive control refers to a complementary set of cognitive operations by which individuals monitor for and detect the presence of goal-interfering conflict (i.e., conflict monitoring/evaluation) and, subsequently, initiate attention-focusing and response selection processes to bolster goal-directed action in the face of such conflict (regulative control). The purpose of the current study was to characterize the nature of conflict adaptation in both components of this dynamic process across sequences of trials and, more broadly, across time as participants complete a cognitive control task. Fifty-two young adults completed a standard arrow flanker task while behavioral and ERP data were recorded. Multilevel modeling of sequences of compatible and incompatible trials over time showed that, whereas response time data demonstrated a typical conflict adaptation effect throughout the task, N2 and frontal slow wave (FSW) indices of conflict monitoring and regulative control, respectively, demonstrated significant conflict adaptation only during the early part of the task. Moreover, although differential change in N2 and FSW over time suggested that conflict monitoring and regulative control were dissociable, a reciprocal relation between them was maintained throughout the task and was not present in a component theoretically unrelated to conflict adaptation (visual attention-related N1). Findings are discussed in terms of compensatory processes that help to maintain goal-directed performance even as control-related neural responses become fatigued.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temporal dynamics of reactive cognitive control as revealed by event‐related brain potentials

2017

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“…The research on willpower theories suggests that the lay theories themselves might cause or prevent ego depletion from occurring at all. Mechanisms that are hypothesized to underlie the ego depletion phenomenon—such as glucose availability (Baumeister & Vohs, ; Gailliot et al, ) or finding balance between motivations to work and rest (Francis & Inzlicht, ; Inzlicht et al, )—are both moderated by willpower theories. The predictions generated by these models (respectively, that consuming glucose should prevent depletion and that depletion should result in increased motivation to rest) were observed within groups of limited willpower theorists but not with nonlimited theorists (Job et al, ; Job, Bernecker, et al, ).…”

Section: Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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Expecting tasks to help or hurt subsequent cognitive performance: Variability, accuracy, and bias in forecasted after‐effects

Francis

Inzlicht

2022

Euro J Social Psych

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After‐effects on cognition—where a prior activity either benefits or hinders subsequent cognitive performance—are empirically inconsistent. Do people have insight into when their subjective energy and cognition will be helped or hurt by engaging in prior activities? Studies 1a and 1b (combined N  =  316) find that people expect more demanding and unenjoyable tasks to hinder their subsequent energy and cognitive performance, regardless of their willpower lay theory. Study 2 (N  =  167) examines the accuracy of these forecasts using a within‐subject design. Participants’ forecasts of their future subjective states did predict their actual experienced subjective states, but participants were not able to accurately forecast their subsequent maths performance. Additionally, they significantly overestimated the detrimental effects of demanding prior activities on both subjective state and performance. Study 3 (N  =  210) found that participants’ overestimation of detrimental after‐effects could result in unnecessary financial costs, suggesting these biased forecasts can have consequences.

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Proximate and Ultimate Causes of Ego Depletion

Cited by 16 publications

References 108 publications

Temporal dynamics of reactive cognitive control as revealed by event‐related brain potentials

Temporal dynamics of reactive cognitive control as revealed by event‐related brain potentials

Lay theories of willpower

Expecting tasks to help or hurt subsequent cognitive performance: Variability, accuracy, and bias in forecasted after‐effects

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