Social and Personality Psychology Compass 9/2 (2015): 88–99, 10.1111/spc3.12160

control, and a focus on self-control success rather than failure. We propose that effortless strategies of dealing with response conf lict (i.e., competing behavioral tendencies) are what distinguishes successful self-controllers from less successful ones. While people with high trait self-control may recognize the potential for response conf lict in self-control dilemmas, they do not seem to subjectively experience this conf lict as much as people with low self-control. Two strategies may underlie this difference: avoidance of response conf lict through adaptive, habitual behaviors, and the efficient downregulating of response conf lict. These strategies as well as the role of response conf lict are elaborated upon and discussed in the light of existing literature on self-control. Self-control is regarded as pivotal in human evolution (Vohs & Baumeister, 2011). In line with this notion, many studies have demonstrated that the ability to self-control is vital for human functioning and that it leads to improved work and academic performance, more satisfying relationships, and basically healthier and happier lives (e.g., Duckworth & Seligman, 2005