PROACTIVE STRATEGIES AND TEMPTATION: THE ANTECEDENTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF PROACTIVE SELF-CONTROL

Abstract

Temptation is everywhere. While self-control is important in success of long-term goals, continuous exertion of self-control is likely to fail. Past research highlights the success of proactive self-control strategies in alleviating reliance on in-the-moment self-control. In two studies, the present research investigated the antecedents and consequences of proactive self-control. I predict that trait self-control influences use of proactive strategies, reducing distraction and fatigue, improving performance. Proactive self-control was measured behaviourally via participants’ decision to bring their smartphones into an important but boring test. In Study 1, participants decided whether to proactively remove temptation before taking a bogus cognitive test. In Study 2, participants’ decision to utilise proactive strategies was manipulated, and the bogus cognitive test was changed for greater performance sensitivity. In Study 1, high trait self-control individuals were not more likely to use proactive self-control. Combining both studies, results revealed that use of proactive strategies to remove temptation increases fatigue. Also, effects of temptation retention on performance were not found, potentially due to small sample size. Overall, findings highlight the consequential effects of mere temptation retention and what precedes this effect, showing support for use of proactive strategies in anticipation of temptation.