A theory of self-control and naïveté: The blights of willpower and blessings of temptation

Kristian Ove R. Myrseth and Conny Wollbrant

Journal of Economic Psychology, 2013, vol. 34, issue C, 8-19

Abstract: We model self-control conflict as an agent’s stochastic struggle against a visceral influence that impels the agent to act sub-optimally. The agent holds costly pre-commitment technology to avoid the conflict altogether and may decide whether to procure pre-commitment or to confront the visceral influence. We examine naïve expectations for the strength of the visceral influence; naïve expectations lead the agent to exaggerate the expected utility of resisting temptation and so mistakenly forego pre-commitment. Contrary to accepted wisdom, our analysis reveals conditions under which higher willpower—and lower visceral influence—reduces welfare. Our analysis, therefore, calls into question policy measures that influence willpower and visceral influences.

Keywords: Self-control; Temptation; Inter-temporal choice; Pre-commitment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D01 D03 D69 D90 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:34:y:2013:i:c:p:8-19

DOI: 10.1016/j.joep.2012.11.003

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