The context-sensitive use of task enrichment to promote self-control: The role of metacognition and trait self-control.

Abstract

We investigated the use of the self-regulatory strategy task enrichment, which involves adding positive stimulation to make an aversive focal task more enjoyable. Given that such stimulation may impose additional cognitive load, people should use task enrichment in a context-sensitive manner, that is, preferably in tasks which themselves are low as opposed to high in cognitive load. Study 1 (N = 401) is a preregistered online experiment and Study 2 (N = 503) presents a secondary analysis of a 10-day experience sampling study investigating the use of task enrichment in people's everyday lives. In line with hypotheses, these studies show that people are more likely to use task enrichment and use it to greater success to promote their persistence in tasks with low as opposed to high cognitive load. We found no evidence that individual differences in self-control predict the use of task enrichment in such a context-sensitive manner. However, we found some evidence that individual differences in one specific aspect of metacognition in self-control, namely metacognitive knowledge, predicts the context-sensitive use of task enrichment. We discuss the potential implications of the findings for the field of self-control research.