Self-control relies on glucose as a limited energy source: willpower is more than a metaphor

The present work suggests that self-control relies on glucose as a limited energy source. Laboratory tests of self-control (i.e., the Stroop task, thought suppression, emotion regulation, attention control) and of social behaviors (i.e., helping behavior, coping with thoughts of death, stifling prej...

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Published inJournal of personality and social psychology Vol. 92; no. 2; p. 325
Main Authors Gailliot, Matthew T, Baumeister, Roy F, DeWall, C Nathan, Maner, Jon K, Plant, E Ashby, Tice, Dianne M, Brewer, Lauren E, Schmeichel, Brandon J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.02.2007
Subjects
Analysis of Variance
Attention - physiology
Blood Glucose
Emotions - physiology
Female
Helping Behavior
Humans
Inhibition (Psychology)
Male
Prejudice
Psychophysiology
Social Control, Informal
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Summary:The present work suggests that self-control relies on glucose as a limited energy source. Laboratory tests of self-control (i.e., the Stroop task, thought suppression, emotion regulation, attention control) and of social behaviors (i.e., helping behavior, coping with thoughts of death, stifling prejudice during an interracial interaction) showed that (a) acts of self-control reduced blood glucose levels, (b) low levels of blood glucose after an initial self-control task predicted poor performance on a subsequent self-control task, and (c) initial acts of self-control impaired performance on subsequent self-control tasks, but consuming a glucose drink eliminated these impairments. Self-control requires a certain amount of glucose to operate unimpaired. A single act of self-control causes glucose to drop below optimal levels, thereby impairing subsequent attempts at self-control.
ISSN:0022-3514
DOI:10.1037/0022-3514.92.2.325