Neural and Behavioral Evidence for an Intrinsic Cost of Self-Control

Wouter Kool, Joseph T McGuire, Gary J Wang and Matthew M Botvinick

PLOS ONE, 2013, vol. 8, issue 8, 1-6

Abstract: The capacity for self-control is critical to adaptive functioning, yet our knowledge of the underlying processes and mechanisms is presently only inchoate. Theoretical work in economics has suggested a model of self-control centering on two key assumptions: (1) a division within the decision-maker between two ‘selves’ with differing preferences; (2) the idea that self-control is intrinsically costly. Neuroscience has recently generated findings supporting the ‘dual-self’ assumption. The idea of self-control costs, in contrast, has remained speculative. We report the first independent evidence for self-control costs. Through a neuroimaging meta-analysis, we establish an anatomical link between self-control and the registration of cognitive effort costs. This link predicts that individuals who strongly avoid cognitive demand should also display poor self-control. To test this, we conducted a behavioral experiment leveraging a measure of demand avoidance along with two measures of self-control. The results obtained provide clear support for the idea of self-control costs.

Date: 2013
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0072626

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072626

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