Abstract
Although self-control often requires behavioral inaction (i.e., not eating a piece of cake), the process of inhibiting impulsive behavior is commonly characterized as cognitively active (i.e., actively exerting self-control). Two experiments examined whether motivation for action or inaction facilitates self-control behavior in the presence of tempting stimuli. Experiment 1 used a delay discounting task to assess the ability to delay gratification with respect to money. Experiment 2 used a Go/No-Go task to assess the ability to inhibit a dominant but incorrect motor response to the words “condom” and “sex”. The results demonstrate that goals for inaction promote self-control, whereas goals for action promote impulsive behavior. These findings are discussed in light of recent evidence suggesting that goals for action and inaction modulate physiological resources that promote behavioral execution.
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Notes
There was a main effect of gender on the delay discounting task, such that males (M = 0.044; SD = 0.024) were significantly more impulsive than females (M = 0.017; SD = 0.017), F(1,25) = 8.30, p < .01. However, gender did not interact with prime to influence impulsivity, F(1,25) = 0.78, p = .39.
There was no main effect of gender, F(1,39) = 1.16, p = .29, no gender by prime interaction, F(2,39) = 0.00, p = .99, no gender by stimulus interaction, F(1,39) = 1.33, p = .26, and no gender by prime by stimulus interaction, F(2,39) = 0.60, p = .56.
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Hepler, J., Albarracin, D., McCulloch, K.C. et al. Being active and impulsive: The role of goals for action and inaction in self-control. Motiv Emot 36, 416–424 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-011-9263-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-011-9263-4