Wish you had more self-control? You should hear the downsides

is a PhD student in the Social Psychology Department at the Ohio State University. She studies how mindsets, beliefs and perceptions about self-control can affect motivation, success in goal-attainment, and wellbeing.

is assistant professor at the Department of Psychological Sciences at Purdue University in Indiana, where he also serves as the director of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and co-directs the DEI Science Consortium at the College of Health and Human Sciences. His research lies at the intersection of mindset and conflict management, offering insights into better managing conflicts that arise in culturally diverse teams, difficult communications, and multiple goal pursuits. 

Temptation is part of life. It is commonplace to find yourself in situations where what you want to do and what you feel you should do are in conflict – for instance, choosing between a delicious dessert versus sticking to a diet, or playing video games instead of studying, or watching a movie rather than going to the gym. During these times, you likely aspire to make the ‘right’ decision – the decision that propels you towards your long-term goals. Successfully resisting temptations or, in other words, exerting high self-control more often, is probably something you strive for. There’s certainly a widespread cultural belief in the value of greater willpower and self-discipline, as a glance at any self-help shelf or magazine rack will attest. Yet research by us and others tells a far more interesting and nuanced story about the pros and cons of being someone with ample self-control.

Unsurprisingly, a good deal of past research has focused on the positive outcomes and impacts of having high self-control. Findings show that people with greater self-control experience benefits such as higher productivity and success at school and work, greater success and satisfaction in their relationships, and they are viewed as more trustworthy by their peers. Naturally, these impressive outcomes shine a highly favourable light on the trait, and they jibe with the way that willpower is vaunted in popular culture. But, in fact, there’s growing evidence that self-control is not an exclusively beneficial characteristic – it can also come with various downsides, suggesting we would do well to take a more nuanced view of this trait and our desire for more of it.

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