Glossary / Lexicon

Deutsch: Selbstkontrolle / Español: autocontrol / Português: autocontrole / Français: maîtrise de soi / Italiano: autocontrollo

The self-control is shown with respect to choice between two rewards, selecting a larger later reward over a smaller sooner reward.

In the context of psychology, self-control refers to the ability of an individual to regulate their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in the face of temptations and impulses. As a facet of emotional intelligence, self-control is crucial for adaptive social interactions, achieving long-term goals, and maintaining personal well-being.

Description

Self-control in psychology involves the conscious regulation of one's actions, impulses, or emotions to meet certain standards, achieve specific goals, or conform to societal norms. This regulatory process is a key component of executive functions, which are cognitive processes managed by the prefrontal cortex of the brain. These functions include planning, decision-making, error correction, and overriding immediate desires in favor of longer-term intentions.

Application Areas

Self-control is a central concept in various branches of psychology:

• Clinical psychology: Focuses on helping individuals enhance their self-control to overcome or manage psychological disorders, such as addiction, eating disorders, and impulse control disorders.
• Developmental psychology: Studies how self-control develops from childhood into adulthood and its impact on personal development and social integration.
• Health psychology: Investigates how self-control influences health behaviors, such as exercise, diet, and adherence to medical advice.

Well-Known Examples

The famous Marshmallow Test, a series of studies on delayed gratification led by psychologist Walter Mischel, illustrates the concept of self-control in developmental psychology. In these experiments, children were given a choice between a small reward provided immediately or a larger reward if they waited for a period of time. The ability to wait was linked to better outcomes later in life in areas such as academic success, health, and general well-being.

Treatment and Risks

Improving self-control is often a goal in psychological treatment:

• Benefits: Enhancing self-control can lead to better stress management, healthier relationships, and greater success in academic and professional endeavors.
• Risks: Poor self-control can lead to a range of problems, including social and legal issues, financial problems, and health complications.

Symptoms, Therapy, and Healing

• Therapy Techniques: Cognitive-behavioral strategies, mindfulness, and habit reversal training are commonly used to improve self-control. These techniques help individuals recognize the situations in which they are likely to lose control and implement alternative behaviors.
• Healing Process: Building self-control is a gradual process that involves developing greater awareness of one’s impulses, practicing delayed gratification, and reinforcing positive behavior patterns.

Articles with 'Self-control' in the title

• Insufficient Self-Control/Self-Discipline: Insufficient Self-Control/Self-Discipline: Insufficient Self-Control /Self-Discipline refers to the sense that a person cannot accomplish his goals, especially if the process contains boring, repetitive, or frustrating aspects
• Covert self-control: Covert self-control: Covert self-control refers to the manipulation and alteration of private events, such as thoughts, through principles of reinforcement and self-instruction

Summary

In psychology, self-control is the ability to regulate one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in pursuit of long-term goals. It is essential for personal and social development, contributing significantly to an individual's success and well-being. Effective self-control strategies are integral in psychological therapy and are important for managing a variety of life challenges and psychological conditions.

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