Self control
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Self control is the exertion of one's own will on their personal self - their behaviors, actions, thought processes. Much of this comes from the perception of self and the ability to set up boundaries for that self. Self-control can be expanded into several different areas, ranging from respect to willpower. Self-control is therefore centered in the ability of a person to exert their will over the inhibitions of their body or self.
People demonstrate great differences in their level of self-control. It can be affected because of illness and past experiences and it can be improved through the course of life. Many religions have teachings about self control. In the Christian context, Paul describes self control in the epistle to the Galatians (5:22), as one of the fruits of the Spirit. In the epistle addressed to Titus (2:6) he instructs to `Urge the younger men to be self controlled.' The Apostle Peter describes an increase in self control as fundamental to the salvation of a Christian (2 Peter 1:5-8). According to Buddist philosophy, Dhammapada 80 and 145 reads, "Irrigators lead the waters. Fletchers bend the shafts. Carpenters bend wood. The virtuous control themselves."
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[edit] The importance of self control
In the 1960s, Walter Mischel tested four year old children for self control in "The Marshmallow Test": the children were each given a marshmallow and told that they can eat it anytime they want, but if they waited 15 minutes, they would receive another marshmallow. Follow up studies showed that the results correlated well with these children's success levels in later life [1]. Also, in 1973, Dr. Grossarth-Maticek gave thousands of people psychometric tests. 21 years later, in 1994, he did a follow up study with the members of the original study whom he was able to find. His reported results appear to show that the life-expectancy of the group was more strongly correlated with their assessed self-control level than anything else[2]. For example, smoking a pack of cigarettes per day would reduce your life by approximately 3,139 days, wheras the difference in life expectancy between poor self control and good self control is 7,518 days - nearly 21 years[3].
[edit] Impulse control
Self Control as defined here is also known as impulse control or self regulation. Some psychologists prefer the term impulse control because it may be more precise and hopefully the Self is far more than impulses. The term Self regulation is used to refer to the many processes individuals use to manage drives and emotions. Therefore, self regulation also embodies the concept of will power. Self Regulation is an extremely important executive function of the brain. Deficits in self control/regulation are found in a large number of psychological disorders including ADHD, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, addiction, eating disorders and impulse control disorders[4].
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Mischel, W., Shoda, Y., & Rodriguez, M. L. (1989). Delay of Gratification in Children. Science, 244, 933-938. www.sciencemag.org
- ^ Reported in the book "The Attitude Factor" by Thomas Blakeslee
- ^ Life expectancy table in chapter 10 of Thomas Blakeslee's book, "The Attitude Factor"
- ^ Baumeister, RF, Vohs KD Handbook of Self Regulation:Research, Theory and Applications, Guilford Press, 2004
