Self-Control A Function of KnowingWhen andHow to Exercise Restraint

ABSTRACT—To successfully pursue a goal in the face of temptation, an individual must first identify that she faces a self-control conflict. Only then will the individual exer-cise self-control to promote goal pursuit over indulging in temptation. We propose a new model that distinguishes between the problems of conflict identification and those of conflict resolution. We then review research on the factors that influence conflict identification and those that deter-mine conflict resolution. KEYWORDS—self-control; goals; temptation In Plato’s Protagoras (ca. 380 BC), Socrates asks how it is pos-sible that one lacks command over oneself and experiences akrasia, the state of acting against one’s better judgment (Plato, 1986).With the advent of experimental psychology, the question of akrasia has endured as the question of self-control: How does one pursue a goal offering larger long-run benefits when it conflicts with a temptation offering greater immediate rewards? We propose that success in self-control is contingent jointly on identifying conflict between temptation and ‘‘better judgment’’ and on successfully implementing self-control strategies. Of course, identifying conflict is not always a central issue. One could imagine the diabetic diner facing a delicious dessert on the plate before her, but knowing that having that dessert could trigger dangerous insulin levels; she should not have it. In this case, her capacity to invoke self-control strategies (e.g.