Self-Control and the ‘Self’

2219 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Self control and it's consequences

Nearly everyone in the modern world has heard of the term self-control, a seemingly non-important or uninteresting topic of interest. However, self-control has been related to having one of the most significant impacts on a person. Even some have gone as far to say that self-control is the “biggest predictor of a successful and satisfying life” (Pinker 1), which are bold words for a topic that many merely disregard. The idea of self-control is a concept coined in the Victorian era, and appears immensely throughout the novel, Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength, written by R.F. Baumeister & J. Tierney. Essentially a self-help book, ‘Willpower’ provides explanations for why humans are doing the things that they do, and why people aren’t always as virtuous as they may be expected to be. Self-control affects many facets of a person’s life, and by looking at how it is presented in psychology, and in Baumeister and Tierney’s novel, Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength, one will see the correlations and differences between modern research and historical perspectives on the idea of self-control, and ultimately decide if the idea of self-control is an inherent trait or a learned condition. Self-control is a topic and concept argued frequently in the psychological world. Some believe that self-control is an innate feature of human kind, while others, like Baumeister, believe it is a characteristic that can be practiced and strengthened. Baumeister’s model of willpower describes self-control as a muscle that can be depleted and replenished, just as any other muscle in the body. What is self-control exactly? Well, Freud was a psychologist who believed that personality is a biological component of ones-self,... ... middle of paper ... ...Virtue, Personality, and Social Relations: Self-Control as the Moral Muscle." Journal of Personality 67.6 (1999): 1165-194. Print. Davis, Doug. "A Glossary of Freudian Terminology." A Freud Glossary. Web. 3 Apr. 2012. . Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. . Pinker, Steven. "The Sugary Secret of Self-Control." NY Times. Sept.-Oct. 2011. Web. 4 Mar. 2012. "The Science of Self-Control [Paperback]." Amazon.com: The Science of Self-Control (9780674013575): Howard Rachlin: Books. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. . "Self Control in Society, Mind, and Brain." Alibris. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. .

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of The Social Animal By David Brooks

    798 Words  | 2 Pages

    In my own words, I believe that self-control is a deliberate attempt to change the way one thinks and acts about something. For instance, during the month of March, I am on a restricted diet to try to find food triggers to my daily migraines. When I first started, I had to remind myself constantly that at breakfast I wasn’t going to grab a glass of milk, or at lunch, that I wasn’t going to make myself a sandwich. I didn’t realize how hard this was going to be when I first started. There are still times, 15 days after starting, that I am reminded by my mom or dad that I can’t eat certain foods or that I have to pack my own dinner because where we go for dinner won’t have food that I can eat. Every day, I am retraining my mind at how I look at food. I am having to constantly shift my mind away from the long list of food I can’t eat and focus on food that I can. The way that I shift my thoughts of food, is similar to how Erica in Brooks’ book had to shift her thoughts to focus on her tennis match going on. It is a constant rewiring of how the brain looks at the world around us. This process is not easy, and takes a lot of work and time. However, as time progresses, it does get easier. Growing up, I missed a several years of my childhood due to tragedies that occurred. Going through the aftermath of some of the hardships I was facing, I developed an isolated mindset. I thought that if I didn’t get close to people, than I couldn’t get hurt by them as well.

    Read More

  • Galen Strawson's Argumentative Analysis

    1544 Words  | 4 Pages

    Focusing on Strawson’s position on the notion of free will, he points out the argument of the pessimists, who believe that the reason why one can be responsible for what one does is because one’s self is sometime independent of one’s general mental state (). Strawson debunks this by presenting the fact that they are not recognizing the importance of the self or “the agent self”. He states,

    Read More

  • Loss Of Control In Macbeth

    556 Words  | 2 Pages

    Perhaps one of the most profound needs of humans is having control. Control gives not only satisfaction but also a sense of relief that things are going to go the way one has planned. In the evolutionary perspective, having a control for one’s environment results to better survivability. The loss of control on the other hand provides a cramped stress to gain control. It proves to be one of the needs that certainly ranks in the top of the hierarchy. Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, and Steven Galloway’s The Cellist of Sarajevo, shows the human struggle for control and what they would do to grasp it. Both literary pieces show that inclination towards having control. Humans, although impossible, have an inner desire to control everything.

    Read More

  • What Is Sigmund Bandura And My Personality

    1678 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sigmund Freud provides a concept of how a person’s personality is structured and to have a healthy personality requires a balance in the interaction between the id, ego, and superego. Bandura’s theory of observational learning plays a vital role in the persons conditioning process. By understanding the basis of observational learning that includes modeling, disinhibition, and trolling, one can recognize the different types of reinforcements that contribute to how one learns and then behaves in situations throughout their life. The experience and knowledge of self-discovery comes gradually without an instantaneous impact. Although, moments of true realization can give one a release from past insecurities, doubt, and shame just to name a few. Such realizations can change how one views or feels about their past, which includes their choices, successes, failures, and the different relationships they have had from birth to the present. In conclusion, one should invest in getting to know their own personality to educate themselves and receive the benefits of a healthy state of mental

    Read More

  • Stop Biting Your Nails through Conditioning

    621 Words  | 2 Pages

    When I succeeded in refraining from biting my nails the first day I was filled with great pride as I knew it was because of my own ability and restraint. This coincides with the idea that I have always had an internal locus of control.

    Read More

  • Responsibility and Control

    900 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ryon, H. S., & Gleason, M. E. J. (2013). The role of locus of control in daily life. Personality

    Read More

  • The Master of One’s Fate, The Captain of One’s Soul

    834 Words  | 2 Pages

    One is often influenced and criticized by close peers. Because of this constant speculation and concern for others, people turn trivial decisions into difficult life altering battles. Even in solitude one’s conscious is a constant—and dogmatic—observer. The idea of even having to make a choice has escaladed into a tyrannical monster. To take back control, Montaigne advises individuals to look inward. He proposes people discipline themselves in “a back shop all our own”(Montaigne 214) because “it would be madness to trust [one]self if [one] do[es] not know how to govern [one’s] self” (Montaigne 221). In solitude—”free from the violent clutches that engage” (Montaigne 216)—one must go so far in discipline that he “dare not trip up in your own presence” (Montaigne 221). By doing this, individuals respect their decision, trusting it the most beneficial and appropriate to the situation.

    Read More

  • A Comparison Of The Allegorical Themes In Moby Dick

    946 Words  | 2 Pages

    Examples of self-control, or lack thereof, are displayed in the life of the carpenter and Ahab and Pip’s slide from sanity. The blacksmith, as told through his back-story, has become a blacksmith on whale boat after losing everything he owned, including a wife and three children, due to alcoholism. Alcohol, in the most cunning disguise, came in like a “desperate burglar” (Melville 458) and took everything from him. Ahab and Pip succumb to insanity after near death experiences that leave them bewildered at the unknown world. In each of these cases, they have the ability to control themselves to a certain point. After which, after they have “pushed off from that insular Tahiti” (Melville 271), then they are no longer able to control their own

    Read More

  • Social Cognitive Theory And Trait Theory

    1279 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Self-concept consists of knowledge, views and evaluation of the self, ranging from miscellaneous facts of personal history to the identity that gives a sense of purpose and coherence to life” (McCrae and Costa, 1996). With self-concept, we learn who we are by observing ourselves and using our cognitive processes to judge and evaluate our behaviour. However, with self-regulation, we are able to use this knowledge and judgment and apply it to future situations and so predicts behaviour and says a lot about our personality. If we are willing to cognitively analyse past situations and apply it effectively to future situations, this means we are changing our behaviour, thus changing our

    Read More

  • The Leadership of Margaret Thatcher

    1824 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the high road to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction.” (5)

    Read More

  • Temptation

    830 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nordgren, L. F., & Chou, E. Y. (2011). The Push and Pull of Temptation: The Bidirectional Influence of Temptation on Self-Control. Psychological Science (Sage Publications Inc.), 22(11), 1386-1390.

    Read More

  • The Huawei Company and International Business

    2743 Words  | 6 Pages

    4. Self-control (informal control): involves the controlee determining his or her own behaviour (e.g., self-monitoring and management, empowerment and autonomy, self-set goals, and rewards).

    Read More

  • The Impact Of Leadership And Organizational Stress

    797 Words  | 2 Pages

    Park, C. L., Wright, B. E., Pais, J., & Ray, D. M. (2016). Daily Stress and Self-Control., 35, 738-753.

    Read More

  • The Concept of Self

    909 Words  | 2 Pages

    Who am I? What am I? Where am I going? These questions have baffled the minds of humankind for centuries, since man was able to evolve a concept of self and consider his own nature. Man has come a long way since that day, but has no further answers in the quest for "Self-Concept". Who we are is, and always will be a reflection of different yet individual societies and environments in which we live. The roles we play in our specific societies give us a place of belonging and self. The self as an entity exists on two levels: mental and physical.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Willpower

    738 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many people believe they could improve their lives if only they had more willpower. If you had more self-control you would eat better, exercise more often, avoid doing drugs and consuming alcohol, save more money for retirement, stop procrastinating on important tasks, and achieve our ambitions. This could help improve our lifestyle.

    Read More

More about Self-Control and the ‘Self’

Open Document