Self-regulation and depletion of limited resources: Does self-control resemble a muscle?

The authors review evidence that self-control may consume a limited resourc e. Exerting self-cont ol may consume self-control strength, reducing the am ount of strength available for subsequent self-control efforts. Coping with stress, regulating negative affect, and resisting temptations require self -control, and after such self-control efforts, subsequent attempts at self- control are more likely to fail. Continuous self-control efforts, such as v igilance, also degrade over time. These decrements in self-control are prob ably not due to negative moods or learned helplessness produced by the init ial self-control attempt. These decrements appear to be specific to behavio rs that involve self-control: behaviors that do not require self-control ne ither consume nor require self-control strength. It is concluded that the e xecutive component of the self-in particular, inhibition-relies on a limite d, consumable resource.