Self-Regulation September 23rd, 2009 : Lecture 4

Schematic Processing Classic example from last lecture:

Lecture Overview Self-regulation: Overview Delay of Gratification Self-regulatory Strategies Cost of Self-control

Self-Regulation The strategies used to control (regulate) your behaviour Pursuit of a long-term goal Monitor your response to environmental stimuli

Delay of Gratification The ability to forgo an immediate reward for a larger, future reward

Delay of Gratification Mischel (1966), aka “The Bing Study” Method:

Delay of Gratification

Delay of Gratification Later in life, those who can delay gratification: Higher verbal and math SAT scores Parents: Better able to concentrate Better able to cope with frustration and stress Parents and teachers: Greater cognitive and social competence ratings

Self-Regulatory Strategies Self-Distancing Emotion Regulation

Self-Distancing iClicker A B How do you recall negative emotional events? Self-immersed perspective Recall event in the first-person (i.e., from the perspective of your own eyes) Self-distanced perspective Recall event in the third-person (i.e., from the perspective of an observer) iClicker A B

Self-Distancing Ayduk & Kross (2008) Method: 90 participants

Self-Distancing Ayduk & Kross (2008) Results: Emotional Intensity

Self-Distancing Ayduk & Kross (2008) Results: Blood Pressure

Emotion Regulation Self-regulation specific to the control of emotional experience

How Do You Control Your Emotions? Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 I control my emotions by changing the way I think about the situation I’m in. I control my emotion by not expressing them. When I want to feel less negative emotion, I change the way I’m thinking about the situation. When I am feeling negative emotions, I make sure not to express them. When I want to feel more positive emotion, I change what I’m thinking about. I keep my emotions to myself.

How Do You Control Your Emotions? Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 I control my emotions by changing the way I think about the situation I’m in. I control my emotion by not expressing them. When I want to feel less negative emotion, I change the way I’m thinking about the situation. When I am feeling negative emotions, I make sure not to express them. When I want to feel more positive emotion, I change what I’m thinking about. I keep my emotions to myself.

Iclicker: Self-Regulation A = Higher Score to Odd-Numbered Items B = Higher Score to Even-Numbered Items C = Essentially equal (within 2 points of each other)

Emotion Regulation Response-focused Antecedent-focused 3 Primary Strategies: Suppression Reappraisal Situation Selection Response-focused Antecedent-focused

Suppression Inhibiting emotion- expressive behaviour while emotionally aroused

Reappraisal Interpreting potentially emotion-relevant stimuli in unemotional terms

Reappraisal and Suppression Gross (1998) Method: 120 participants

Reappraisal and Suppression Gross (1998) Results: Observer-rated disgust

Reappraisal and Suppression Gross (1998) Results: Blood to peripheries (Finger Pulse Amp.)

Reappraisal and Suppression Gross (1998) Results: Finger temperature

Reappraisal and Suppression Gross (1998) Results: Skin conductance level

Emotion Regulation Requires a Lot of Effort 3 Primary Strategies: Suppression Reappraisal Situation Selection Requires a Lot of Effort Requires Relatively Little Effort

Cost of Self-Regulation Inzlicht & Gutsell (2007) Method: 40 UTSC students

Cost of Self-Regulation Inzlicht & Gutsell (2007) Results: Stroop Effect

Cost of Self-Regulation Inzlicht & Gutsell (2007) Results: Error-related Negativity

Scope of Self-Regulatory Costs Self-regulation in one domain affects ability to exert control on subsequent tasks in another domain

Scope of Self-Regulatory Costs Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Muraven, & Tice (1998) Methods:

Scope of Self-Regulatory Costs Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Muraven, & Tice (1998) Results:

4 Oreos Are Better than 2 Next Lecture (9/25): Perceiving and Predicting Others Related Websites: PSYBlog - Improve your self-control: http://www.spring.org.uk/2008/09/how-to-improve-your-self-control.php O Magazine - Self-distancing: http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/200810_omag_distance