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Related Experiment Video

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Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children
07:01

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

Published on: March 1, 2019

Outsourcing self-regulation.

Gráinne M Fitzsimons1, Eli J Finkel

  • 1The Fuqua School of Business and Department of Psychology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA. grainne.fitzsimons@duke.edu

Psychological Science
|February 10, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Thinking about how others can help with goals reduces your motivation to work on them. This self-regulatory outsourcing effect is stronger when people are depleted or perceive procrastination as costly.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Self-regulation is crucial for goal achievement.
  • Individuals often rely on social support for goal pursuit.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce and investigate the phenomenon of self-regulatory outsourcing.
  • To understand how thinking about instrumental others impacts motivation and effort.

Main Methods:

  • Three experiments were conducted.
  • Participants reflected on how others could help with specific goals (health, academic).
  • Effort, planning, and procrastination were measured, with moderators like resource depletion and perceived cost of procrastination.

Main Results:

  • Recalling instrumental social support for goals decreased planned effort and increased procrastination.
  • This effect was amplified in depleted individuals and when procrastination was framed as resource-draining.
  • Decreased effort was linked to higher relationship commitment.

Conclusions:

  • Self-regulatory outsourcing can undermine personal motivation.
  • The findings highlight the complex interplay between social support, self-regulation, and goal pursuit.
  • Shared or transactive self-regulation dynamics warrant further investigation.