[The assessment of individual differences in self-control in daily life]

Two studies were conducted to develop an instrument to assess individual differences in self-control in daily life. In Study 1, a 20-item Redressive-Reformative Self-Control Scale (RRS) was developed through a study involving 529 subjects. RRS consists of three sub-scales: "redressive self-control (RDSC)" which assesses a tendency of using a repertoire to resume normal functions that have been disrupted; "reformative self-control (RFSC)" which measures one's tendency to force oneself into a stressful situations for the sake of larger and more meaningful rewards in the future; and "external control". The validity of two sub-scales (RDSC, RFSC) was confirmed in Study 2. Fifty-one subjects selected on the basis of RDSC and RFSC scores were interviewed about self-control in their everyday lives. The findings indicated the importance of a combination of redressive and reformative functions in successful self-control. It was suggested that these two functions be examined for the assessment of individual differences in self-control in daily life.