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Related Concept Videos

Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

Self-Discrepancy Theory

One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
Self-Regulation01:25

Self-Regulation

Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
Ryan and Deci's Self-Determination Theory01:17

Ryan and Deci's Self-Determination Theory

Self-Determination Theory (SDT), formulated by Richard Ryan and Edward Deci, explains that human motivation is driven by three fundamental psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. When these needs are met, individuals experience personal growth, intrinsic motivation, and overall well-being.
Autonomy is the need to feel in control of one's actions and decisions. For example, a student who chooses their research topic is likely to be more engaged and motivated than one who is...
Sources of Self-Esteem II: Performance Feedback01:24

Sources of Self-Esteem II: Performance Feedback

Self-esteem is intricately tied to our perception of competence and our ability to exert control over our lives. One of the primary sources of this perception is performance feedback — the ongoing evaluation of our actions in terms of success and failure. According to Franks and Marolla (1976), people derive self-worth from experiencing themselves as causal agents, capable of achieving goals and overcoming obstacles. This process nurtures a critical component of self-esteem: self-efficacy,...
Protecting Self-Esteem01:27

Protecting Self-Esteem

Self-esteem, a central component of psychological well-being, is actively maintained through various cognitive and behavioral strategies. Individuals employ specific mechanisms to preserve a positive self-concept and mitigate threats to their self-worth, particularly in contexts involving social evaluation or personal feedback. Four primary techniques are commonly used to sustain self-esteem.Manipulating AppraisalsOne prominent strategy involves manipulating appraisals from others. Individuals...
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Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties
12:55

Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties

Published on: September 27, 2020

Helpful Self-Control: Autonomy Support, Vitality, and Depletion.

Mark Muraven1, Marylène Gagné, Heather Rosman

  • 1University at Albany.

Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
|May 23, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Feeling autonomous during self-control tasks boosts performance. Supporting autonomy enhances subjective vitality, replenishing ego strength for better self-control outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Self-Control Research

Background:

  • Self-control is a finite resource, often depleted by demanding tasks.
  • The motivation behind exerting self-control can influence its perceived difficulty and impact.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether autonomy support influences the depleting effects of self-control.
  • To examine the role of subjective vitality in mediating the relationship between autonomy support and self-control performance.

Main Methods:

  • Three experiments were conducted involving participants exerting self-control under varying conditions of autonomy support.
  • Subsequent self-control performance was assessed.
  • Measures included subjective vitality, anxiety, stress, unpleasantness, and motivation.

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Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties
12:55

Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties

Published on: September 27, 2020

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children
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Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children

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Main Results:

  • Individuals receiving autonomy support while exerting self-control performed better on subsequent tasks compared to those under pressure.
  • This difference was not attributable to anxiety, stress, unpleasantness, or motivation.
  • Self-control performance decline was mediated by subjective vitality, which was enhanced by autonomy support.

Conclusions:

  • Autonomy support buffers the depleting effects of self-control.
  • Enhanced subjective vitality resulting from autonomy support may replenish ego strength, leading to improved self-control.
  • Fostering autonomy is crucial for maintaining self-control capacity.