Is "willpower" a scientific concept? Suppressing temptation contra resolution in the face of adversity

Area of Science:

• Decision Making Theory
• Behavioral Economics
• Psychology

Background:

• George Ainslie's work distinguishes "suppression," "resolve," and "habit" as key phenomena in decision making.
• Existing theoretical frameworks often rely on the concept of "willpower."

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate Ainslie's conceptual framework for understanding decision-making phenomena.
• To identify limitations in the "willpower" construct and its reliance on reward timing (small/soon vs. large/later).

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of decision-making theory.
• Critique of Ainslie's framework regarding "willpower" and reward discounting.

Main Results:

• Ainslie's distinction of "suppression," "resolve," and "habit" represents a significant contribution.
• The conceptualization of "willpower" and the small/soon (SS) versus large/later (LL) reward distinction is identified as a faulty framework.

Conclusions:

• While Ainslie's triple-phenomena are valuable, the "willpower" construct and its associated reward timing framework do not adequately explain these phenomena.
• Further theoretical development is needed to refine the understanding of decision-making processes beyond the current willpower model.