Self-control and cooperation: Different concepts, similar decisions? A question of the right perspective

Conflicts between an individual's long-term and short-term goals (i.e., sel f-control conflicts) and conflicts between individual and collective intere sts (mixed-motive situations) share some interesting features. In this arti cle both types of conflicts are approached from a perspective hypothesis. T he hypothesis holds that a decision maker's perspective on his or her decis ion determines whether either the long-term goals (the collective interests ) or the short-term goals (the individual interests) will guide behavior. T he hypothesis also implies that factors known to enhance cooperative choice s in mixed-motive situations should also facilitate self-control. Three suc h factors are evaluated: group identification, self-efficacy, and mutual tr ust. We conclude that the perspective in which choice is considered part of an identifiable series of behaviors is most likely to result in cooperatio n or self-control.