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Self-regulation

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Rate your healthy behaviour.

I resist temptations that are overall bad for me in the long run.

I am able to hold off and not react on impulse.

I monitor and evaluate my own behaviour.

I have goals and values that helps me decide if I need to moderate myself.

I avoid temptatations by being good at planning.

I seek to make it more fun to do the boring things I have to do.

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      Private notes on 'self-regulation'

      Self-regulation, prudence, temperance, moderation, voluntary self-restraint or self-control is the capacity to control one’s impulses, both to stop doing something, if needed (even if one wants to continue doing it) and to start doing something, if needed (even if one doesn’t want to do it).

      Effective self-regulation can be recognized as an important key to success in life[1][12][17]. People with self-control are more effective[2][12]. They have better grades in school[13][16]. They have better relationships with family and friends[14], less conflict and more cohesion[15]. They are better at understanding others and score higher on empathy. They show better psychological adjustment[18], including fewer psychological problems, fewer signs of serious psychopathology[18], and higher self-esteem[2]. Supervisors who score higher in self-control are rated more favorably (e.g., as fairer) by their subordinates[3]. People with high self-control make better relationship partners, especially because they are better able to adapt to partners[4][5][6]. Prudent people live longer[8] are more positive[9] are less likely to have antisocial personality disorder[10][11]. Deficient self-control on the other hand is the single most important key to understanding criminality[7].

      More from category Emotional health

      • [1] Mischel, W., & Ayduk, O. (2004). Willpower in a cognitive-affective processing system: The dynamics of delay of gratification. In R. F. Baumeister & K. D. Vohs (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation (pp. 99-129). New York: Guilford Press. View
      • [2] Tangney, J. P., Baumeister, R. F., & Boone, A. L. (2004). High self-control predicts good adjustment, less pathology, better grades, and interpersonal success. Journal of Personality, 72, 271-322.
      • [3] Cox, S. P. (2000). Leader character: A model of personality and moral development. Doctoral dissertation, University of Tulsa.
      • [4] Finkel, E. J., & Campbell, W. K. (2001). Self-control and accommodation in close relationships: An interdependence analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81, 263-277.
      • [5] Tangney, J. P., Baumeister, R. F., & Boone, A. L. (2004). High self-control predicts good adjustment, less pathology, better grades, and interpersonal success. Journal of Personality, 72, 271-322.
      • [6] Vohs, K. D. & Baumeister, R.F. (2004). Depletion of self-regulatory resources makes people selfish. Unpublished manuscript, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
      • [7] Gottfredson, M. R., & Hirschi, T. (1990). A general theory of crime. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
      • [8] Friedman, H. S., Tucker, J. S., Schwartz, J. E., Tomlinson-Keasey, C., Martin, L. R., Wingard, D. L., et al. (1995). Psychosocial and behavioral predictors of longevity: The aging and death of the "Termites." American Psychologist, 50, 69-78.
      • [9] Marshall, G. N., Wortman, C. B., Vickers, R. R., Kusulas, J. W., & Hervig, L. K. (1994). The five-factor model of personality as a framework for personalityhealth research. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 278-286.
      • [10] Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1990). Personality disorders and the five-factor model of personality. Journal of Personality Disorders, 4, 362-371.
      • [11] Wiggins, J. S., & Pincus, A. (1989). Conceptions of personality disorders and dimensions of personality. Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1, 305-316.
      • [12] Barrick, M. R., & Mount, M. K. (1991). The Big Five personality dimensions and job performance: A meta-analysis. Personnel Psychology, 44, 1-26.
      • [13] Wolfe, R. N., & Johnson, S. D. (1995). Personality as a predictor of college performance. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 55, 177-185.
      • [14] Finkel, E. J., & Campbell, W. K. (2001). Self-control and accommodation in close relationships:
      • An interdependence analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81, 263-277.
      • [15] Vohs, K. D., & Baumeister, R. F. (2011). Handbook of Self Regulation (Second ed., Vol. 2). New York,NY: The Guilford Press.
      • [16] Duckworth, A.L., Gendler, T.S. & Gross, J.J. (2014). Self-control in school-age children. Educational Psychologist, 49, 199-217.
      • [17] Moffitt, T., et al. (2011). A gradient of childhood self-control predicts health, wealth, and public safety. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108, 2693-2698.
      • [18] Tangney, J., Baumeister, R., & Boone, A.L. (2004). High self-control predicts good adjustment, less pathology, better grades, and interpersonal success. Journal of Personality, 72, 271-324.