Slate Magazine - Politics, Business, Technology, and the Arts

3/13/2016

This article discusses the concept of ego depletion, a theory in psychology that suggests that self-control and willpower can be depleted over time. It presents a recent meta-analysis of 200 studies that challenges the validity of ego depletion theory. The study found that the effect size of ego depletion is actually quite small, making it questionable whether ego depletion has a significant impact on self-control. The article explores the implications of this new research and raises questions about the reproducibility of previous studies on ego depletion. It suggests that more research is needed to better understand the complex nature of self-control and willpower.

ego depletion ꞏ psychology theories ꞏ self-control ꞏ willpower ꞏ decision-making ꞏ cognitive psychology ꞏ behavior modification ꞏ self-regulation ꞏ motivation ꞏ mental exertion ꞏ self-discipline ꞏ cognitive resources ꞏ self-beliefs ꞏ self-esteem ꞏ self-perception ꞏ self-efficacy ꞏ cognitive fatigue ꞏ cognitive performance ꞏ implicit theories ꞏ belief systems ꞏ goal pursuit ꞏ self-management ꞏ self-control strength ꞏ volitional control ꞏ self-awareness ꞏ self-regulatory resources ꞏ self-control strategies ꞏ psychological research ꞏ experimental psychology ꞏ social psychology ꞏ mental energy ꞏ mental stamina ꞏ self-restraint ꞏ self-regulation failure ꞏ self-control interventions ꞏ self-control training ꞏ psychology experiments ꞏ ego depletion replication ꞏ psychology controversy ꞏ academic research ꞏ scientific methodology ꞏ scientific debate ꞏ scientific findings ꞏ research methods ꞏ statistical analysis ꞏ psychological studies ꞏ scientific discoveries ꞏ scientific progress