Trait approach motivation moderates the aftereffects of self-control

Abstract

Numerous experiments have found that exercising self-control reduces success on subsequent, seemingly unrelated self-control tasks. Such evidence lends support to a strength model that posits a limited and depletable resource underlying all manner of self-control. Recent theory and evidence suggest that exercising self-control may also increase approach-motivated impulse strength. The two studies reported here tested two implications of this increased approach motivation hypothesis. First, aftereffects of self-control should be evident even in responses that require little or no self-control. Second, participants higher in trait approach motivation should be particularly susceptible to such aftereffects. In support, exercising self-control led to increased optimism (Study 1) and broadened attention (Study 2), but only among individuals higher in trait approach motivation. These findings suggest that approach motivation is an important key to understanding the aftereffects of exercising self-control.

Ego Depletion Reduces Attention Control: Evidence From Two High-Powered Preregistered Experiments

“…The process model, by contrast, predicts that exercising self-control may influence subsequent motivation and attention even when self-control is not required. Consistent with this view, the aftereffects of self-control have been observed among individuals who simply view emotional pictures without attempting to control their responding (e.g., Finley & Schmeichel, 2018;Garrison, Crowell, Finley, & Schmeichel, 2017;Schmeichel, Crowell, & Harmon-Jones, 2016; see also Crowell, Kelley, & Schmeichel, 2014;Schmeichel, Harmon-Jones, & Harmon-Jones, 2010).…”

Self-control and its influence on global/local processing: An investigation of the role of frontal alpha asymmetry and dispositional approach tendencies

“…The aim of the first experiment was to replicate Crowell et al' (2014) finding that attentional breadth could be influenced by having individuals exercise self-control for a brief period of time, and that this relationship would be moderated by individuals' self-reported approach motivation as indicated by their BAS scores. Participants completed the BIS/BAS scales and performed a global/local task to measure attentional breadth both before and after a 5-minute Stroop task requiring high self-control (incongruent Stroop trials) or low selfcontrol (congruent Stroop trials).…”

“…This model postulates that exerting self-control causes shifts in attention and motivation toward approaching more reward-seeking and pleasurable behaviors. Evidence to support this model includes findings that selfcontrol can lead to greater reported optimism in highapproach-motivated individuals (Crowell et al, 2014), facilitated perception of reward-like symbols in comparison to nonreward-like symbols (Schmeichel et al, 2010), and muted error monitoring (via decreased error-related negativity amplitudes) during incorrect trials by individuals with greater left frontal activity at rest (Nash et al, 2012).…”

“…For example, participants showed increased betting on a lowstakes gambling game, regardless of relative outcomes, as well as facilitated perception of reward-related symbols (i.e., dollar signs) after exercising self-control (Schmeichel et al, 2010). Also, individuals with higher BAS scores demonstrated greater optimism about future health outcomes after engaging in self-control (Crowell, Kelley, & Schmeichel, 2014). Exercising self-control also resulted in greater subsequent activity in areas of the brain that are responsible for coding reward (Wagner, Altman, Boswell, Kelley, & Heatherton, 2013) as well as increased desire (Hofmann, Vohs, & Baumeister, 2012).…”

“…Both approach motivation and left frontal activation have been implicated in a local processing bias (e.g., Gable et al, 2013;Harmon-Jones & Gable, 2009), suggesting that exercising self-control could promote reduced attentional breadth. Crowell et al (2014) had participants complete the BIS/BAS questionnaire after writing about a recent trip they had taken, either without constraints (control condition) or without using the letters Ba^or Bn^(self-control condition), and completing the hierarchical shape task to measure their attentional breadth (Kimchi & Palmer, 1982). Participants reporting greater trait approach motivation made more global selections, but only after completing the more taxing, self-control task.…”