Ch 4 Self Control

Risk Aversion-Influence on choice

the greater weight given to possible losses than possible gains. ex most people didn’t want to bet $10 in coin flip in case they lost, even though the odds are equal

Temporal Discounting-Influences on choices

greater weight given to present than future ex. win $1000 today or $1200 in 2 weeks, most pick $1000

Certainty Effect-influences on choices

greater weight is given to definite outcomes than to probabilities ex. more likely to buy a car based on color the on safety/repair records because repairs are not certain

Keeping options open- influences on choices

prefer to postpone hard decisions and keep their options open as long as possible ex. shopper who had option to look at sales now or later, chose later

Error Management Theory-influences on choices

both men and women seek to minimize the most costly type of error, but men’s and women’s goals are different ex. female have goal of best possible mate, men have goal of taking advantage of every mating opportunity

Reactance Theory-influences on choices

people are distressed by loss of freedom or options and seek to reclaim or reassert them

-reactance refers to the negative feelings had when an option is taken away

-consequences: wanting the forbidden option more, make you take steps to try and reclaim lost option, and may act aggressively towards who took away the option.

Entity theorists-aspects of change

people who regard traits as fixed, stable things(entities).

-prefer to do things they are good at in order to gain success, don’t like criticism or failure

Incremental theorists- aspects of change

believe traits are subject to change and improvement

-more likely to enjoy learning and challenges, don’t mind criticism or initial failure because they expect to improve

self-determination theory- freedom of action

people need to feel at least some degree of autonomy or internal motivation

-acting off intrinsic motivation derive more satisfaction, interest, confidence, etc

panic button effect-freedom of action

a reduction in stress or suffering due to a belief that one has the option of escaping or controlling the situation, even if one doesn't exercise it

Zeigarnik effect- aspects of goals and plans

a tendency to experience automatic, intrusive thoughts about a goal whose pursuit has been interrupted, like the unconscious mind nagging the conscious mind to make a plan

mindset for setting goals

time to be realistic, thoughtful, & accurate regarding their capabilities

mindset for pursuing goals

optimism and positive illusions help build confidence and better performance

goal shielding

occurs when activation of a focal goal the person is working on inhibits the accessibility of alternative goals, keeps more important goals at bay

-ex. finding someone to marry is more important than math HW, but if you only focus on marrying, you won’t do your work.

Planning Fallacy

tendency for plans to be overly optimistic because the planner fails to allow for unexpected problems

standards- components of self-regulation

ideas of how things should be, can be supplied by culture(what to wear, act, etc) invoke what not to do (lie, cheat, steal)

-people have higher self control when in high level thinking

monitoring-components of self regulation

keeping track of behaviors or responses you want regulated

-must attend to progress to have self control

TOTE

monitoring feedback loop: test, operate, test, exit

-first test is a comparison of self against the standard

-not meeting your goal or have progress leads to operate. changing yourself/behavior

-test yourself again, eventually goal is reached and u can exit the loop

Strength/capacity for change- components of self regulation

what goes on during the operate phase, willpower can be depleted when people use it

Capacity to delay gratification

the ability to make immediate sacrifices for later rewards

Improving self control

-regulate your energy: SC requires energy, so take care of yourself

-foster autonomy: wanting to v. having to. takes energy when you “have to”, doesn’t suck energy if you want to

-automatize: establish habits and routines, makes good behaviors effortless

-manage your physical environment: environmental cues trigger behavior. ex. expose yourself to fruits and veggies if you want to eat more of them

-manage social environment: influence of others is powerful, goal contagion, motivational looking glass makes us to conform to others expectations of us. surround yourself with those who see you as capable