SELF-CONTROL AS LIMITED RESOURCE - REGULATORY DEPLETION PATTERNS

If self-regulation conforms to an energy or strength model, then self- control should be impaired by prior exertion. In Study I, trying to re gulate one's emotional response to an upsetting movie was followed by a decrease in physical stamina. In Study 2, suppressing forbidden thou ghts led to a subsequent tendency to give up quickly on unsolvable ana grams. In Study 3, suppressing thoughts impaired subsequent efforts to control the expression of amusement and enjoyment. In Study 4, autobi ographical accounts of successful versus failed emotional control link ed prior regulatory demands and fatigue to self-regulatory failure. A strength model of self-regulation fits the data better than activation , priming, skill, or constant capacity models of self-regulation.