Friday, April 11, 2008

Limited Control

A call out to readers...

I know that the few folks who frequent RE: have fairly diverse backgrounds and in general show signs of inquiry above the norm. Trust me on this, I've seen the norm.

So I'm looking for someone who can tell me that this theory is hotly contested. My bullshit meter started to dance immediately.
Tighten Your Belt, Strengthen Your Mind - New York Times

Interestingly, restraining our consumer spending, in the short term, may cause us to actually loosen the belts around our waists. What’s the connection? The brain has a limited capacity for self-regulation, so exerting willpower in one area often leads to backsliding in others. The good news, however, is that practice increases willpower capacity, so that in the long run, buying less now may improve our ability to achieve future goals — like losing those 10 pounds we gained when we weren’t out shopping.

The brain’s store of willpower is depleted when people control their thoughts, feelings or impulses, or when they modify their behavior in pursuit of goals. Psychologist Roy Baumeister and others have found that people who successfully accomplish one task requiring self-control are less persistent on a second, seemingly unrelated task.
Even if this 'limited willpower' theory has a lot of strong research backing it up, it seems that such a thing could easily be short circuited. Instead of exerting self-control in an effort to exercise daily, reprogram yourself to crave going for walks. Rather than a matter of willed effort it becomes a reward.

I've done this with many foods I used to dislike. A few have become such a regular part of my diet that I try never to run out. Like onions, for example. I used to hate onions and would only eat them minced very finely and cooked into things. Now I love onions and can't imagine eating a sub that doesn't have some red onion on it. I used to avoid broccoli but now love to use it in many dishes.

Yep, sounds like they're full of shit. Please confirm.

2 comments:

rbbergstrom said...

Feels like there's a lot of anecdotal evidence in support of it, actually. Can't count how many times I've seen the masses give up something for Lent, and then lose ground in other arenas. "Well, I've been so good. I gave up soda! So I should treat myself..."

Not that that proves a damn thing, but it got just that hint of verisimilitude to it.

Anonymous said...

I don't doubt that the research they describe exists and is probably perfectly valid within the confines of the study, but I agree, the implication of inevitability seems a vastly stupid generalization of the theory. It's just not that easy- "self-regulation" is a complex and multi-faceted skill. Your example of cognitive restructuring (onion trick) is a good illustration of how it can be modified.

The author might as easily have proposed the converse theory, that the current financial crisis is fallout from efforts to curb the obesity epidemic.

I would be more interested in an investigation of the general trend towards decreased abilities in the area of "self-regulation." NPR and the Times both recently featured terrific articles about the changing nature and purpose of play... which seems, among other things, specifically to develop that skill.

But that wouldn't go over well. It would not excuse anyone's behavior and might question their child's... NOT the way to sell papers.