Ego depletion

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The term ego-depletion (from the Latin ego 'I' and the neo-Latin depletio 'bloodletting' , to deplere 'emptying' ; here in the sense of 'self- exhaustion' ) is a paradigm from social psychology for the area of self-regulatory behavior . The central message of the ego-depletion model is that the ability to self-control depends on the willpower of a person, which is fed by a general (self-regulatory) resource. The resource is reduced or even consumed by successive mental tasks that require willpower, regardless of other influencing factors, e.g. physical exhaustion. This concept is also known as the regulatory resource model.

Statements of the model

In order for an act self-control exercise, has the self- energy (it is also used by power or resources spoken) spend. If this energy is then no longer available to the required extent, the ability to self-control is temporarily impaired. This state is then known as ego depletion. The same type of energy is used for decision-making, active action and the control of impulses, thoughts and emotions. The ego depletion model is essentially based on three assumptions:

  1. Universality: The same resource is used for a variety of tasks that require self-control.
  2. Limitation: The resource is only available to a limited extent and can in principle be used up.
  3. Dependency: The ability to control oneself depends entirely on the resource.

If the energy is partially or completely consumed through active voluntary action, the self-regulation performance is reduced or no longer available in a subsequent task. According to the model, willpower is similar to a muscle, which is exhausted for a short time after use, but can be trained in the long term, so that the ability for self-control increases.

Biological basis of the model

The model of the energy that is temporarily consumed as a result of the above mental activities can be related to the consumption of glucose in the brain. The decrease in glucose in the blood can be detected in people who perform self-regulatory tasks.

Reception of the model

Research on the ego-depletion model has been carried out among social psychologists since around 2000 at universities other than Florida State University , where the founder of the theory ( Roy Baumeister ) researches, and now also in Europe.

In addition, the concept of ego depletion also spread to other areas in psychology, e.g. B. on market research . There they deal with it especially with regard to the issue of loss of control and the implications for marketing and personnel management.

criticism

In 2014 the model was tested experimentally. Of 24 teams, 21 could not prove the effect, two could confirm the effect. The result of one group indicated the opposite.

literature

  • RF Baumeister, E. Bratslavsky, M. Muraven, DM Tice: Ego depletion: Is the active self a limited resource? In: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 74, 1998, pp. 1252-1265.
  • RF Baumeister, M. Muraven, DM Tice: Ego depletion: A resource model of volition, self-regulation, and controlled processing. In: Social Cognition. 18, 2000, pp. 130-150.
  • RF Baumeister, M. Gailliot, CN DeWall, M. Oaten: Self-Regulation and Personality: How Interventions Increase Regulatory Success, and How Depletion Moderates the Effects of Traits on Behavior. In: Journal of Personality. 74, 2006, pp. 1773-1801.
  • A. Unger: Ego Depletion - Loss of Control. In: G. Raab, F. Unger: Market Psychology. Basics and application. 2nd Edition. Gabler-Verlag, Wiesbaden 2005, ISBN 3-409-21596-4 , pp. 307-327.
  • A. Unger: The influence of ego depletion on risk behavior . Shaker Verlag , 2007, ISBN 978-3-8322-6278-5 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Reproducibility: Opinion: The willpower problem of psychology . ( Spektrum.de [accessed on October 22, 2016]).
  2. ^ RRR - The Ego-Depletion Paradigm - Association for Psychological Science. In: www.psychologicalscience.org. Retrieved October 3, 2016 .