Self-Control
The Basic Idea
You’ve assembled your ingredients, mixed and baked them, and behold: a perfect pound cake. Nothing compares to that first slice, sweet and delectably dense. All your hard work has paid off. After you finish your first few heavenly bites, what ultimately stops you from eating the whole thing right then and there? This is your self-control coming into play. While we’re all familiar with this concept, research over the last few years has shown that self control is not as straightforward as it might seem. It’s also not static: certain situations, stressors, and even smells (like that of your impeccably prepared cake) can influence one’s self-control.
Self-control is the chief element in self-respect, and self-respect is the chief element in courage.
– Thucydides (460 – 400 B.C.), Athenian historian and army general
About the Author
Lindsey Turk
Lindsey Turk is a Summer Content Associate at The Decision Lab. She holds a Master of Professional Studies in Applied Economics and Management from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Boston University. Over the last few years, she’s gained experience in customer service, consulting, research, and communications in various industries. Before The Decision Lab, Lindsey served as a consultant to the US Department of State, working with its international HIV initiative, PEPFAR. Through Cornell, she also worked with a health food company in Kenya to improve access to clean foods and cites this opportunity as what cemented her interest in using behavioral science for good.
