Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T15:33:07.918Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

11 - Changing Behavior Using Integrative Self-Control Theory

from Part I - Theory and Behavior Change

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2020

By
Wilhelm Hofmann ,
Simone Dohle  and
Kathi Diel
Edited by
Martin S. Hagger ,
Linda D. Cameron ,
Kyra Hamilton ,
Nelli Hankonen  and
Taru Lintunen
Martin S. Hagger
Affiliation:
University of California, Merced
Linda D. Cameron
Affiliation:
University of California, Merced
Kyra Hamilton
Affiliation:
Griffith University
Nelli Hankonen
Affiliation:
University of Helsinki
Taru Lintunen
Affiliation:
University of Jyväskylä
Get access

Summary

Self-control problems are ubiquitous and a frequent target of behavior change interventions. From a theoretical perspective, self-control is not a unitary phenomenon but rather encompasses a vast and complex set of interacting aspects or key components. As the science of self-control keeps growing, the integration of these key components becomes increasingly important. To this end, an integrative self-control theory (integrative self-control theory) is proposed – a mid-level theory that connects seven psychological components or “hubs” of self-control: (1) desire; (2) self-control goal; (3) self-control conflict; (4) self-control motivation; (5) self-control capacity; (6) self-control effort; and (7) constraints. This chapter addresses the issue of behavior change from the perspective of this integrative theory of self-control. A brief introduction to the theory is followed by demonstrations on how it can be used to identify and classify various behavior change techniques in the self-control domain. Moreover, differences and similarities of integrative self-control theory next to more general frameworks such as the commitment-opportunity-motivation behavior model (Michie, Atkins, & West, 2014) are outlined, avenues for future research highlighted, and general recommendations for behavior change from the perspective integrative self-control theory provided.

Keywords

self-control desireself-control goalself-control conflictself-control motivationself-control capacityself-control effortenactment constraintsdesire strengthimpulse control trainingstimulus control
Type
Chapter
Information
The Handbook of Behavior Change , pp. 150 - 163
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ajzen, I., & Albarracín, D. (2007). Predicting and changing behavior: A reasoned action approach. In Ajzen, I., Albarracín, D., & Hornik, R. (Eds.), Prediction and Change of Health Behavior: Applying the Reasoned Action Approach (pp. 3–21). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alberts, H. J. E. M., Mulkens, S., Smeets, M., & Thewissen, R. (2010). Coping with food cravings. Investigating the potential of a mindfulness-based intervention. Appetite, 55, 160–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2010.05.044Google Scholar
Allom, V., Mullan, B., & Hagger, M. (2016). Does inhibitory control training improve health behavior? A meta-analysis. Health Psychology Review, 10, 168–186. https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2015.1051078CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Attwood, A. S., O’Sullivan, H., Leonards, U., Mackintosh, B., & Munafò, M. R. (2008). Attentional bias training and cue reactivity in cigarette smokers. Addiction, 103, 1875–1882. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02335.xGoogle Scholar
Baer, R. A. (2003). Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10, 125–143. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.bpg015Google Scholar
Baumeister, R. F., Bratslavsky, E., Muraven, M., & Tice, D. M. (1998). Ego depletion: Is the active self a limited resource? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 1252. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.5.1252Google Scholar
Baumeister, R. F., Vohs, K. D., DeWall, N., & Zhang, L. (2007). How emotion shapes behavior: Feedback, anticipation, and reflection, rather than direct causation. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 11, 167–203. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868307301033CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berridge, K. C., Robinson, T. E., & Aldridge, J. W. (2009). Dissecting components of reward: “liking,” “wanting,” and learning. Current Opinion in Pharmacology, 9, 65–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coph.2008.12.014Google Scholar
Bernecker, K., Job, V., & Hofmann, W. (2018). Experience, resistance, and enactment of desires: Differential relationships with trait measures predicting self-control. Journal of Research in Personality, 76, 92–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2018.07.007CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Botvinick, M. M., Braver, T. S., Barch, D. M., Carter, C. S., & Cohen, J. D. (2001). Conflict monitoring and cognitive control. Psychological Review, 108, 624–652. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.108.3.624Google Scholar
Brehm, J. W., & Self, E. A. (1989). The intensity of motivation. Annual Review of Psychology, 40, 109–131. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ps.40.020189.000545CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F. (1982). Control theory: A useful conceptual framework for personality–social, clinical, and health psychology. Psychological Bulletin, 92, 111–135. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.92.1.111CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Delaney, L., & Lades, L. K. (2017). Present bias and everyday self‐control failures: A day reconstruction study. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 30, 1157–1167. https://doi.org/10.1002/bdm.2031Google Scholar
De Witt Huberts, J. C., Evers, C., & De Ridder, D. T. (2014). “Because I am worth it”: A theoretical framework and empirical review of a justification-based account of self-regulation failure. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 18, 119–138. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868313507533Google Scholar
Dohle, S., & Hofmann, W. (2019). Consistency and balancing in everyday health behavior: An ecological momentary assessment approach. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 11, 148–169. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12148Google Scholar
Du, J., van Koningsbruggen, G. M., & Kerkhof, P. (2018). A brief measure of social media self-control failure. Computers in Human Behavior, 84, 68–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.02.002Google Scholar
Duckworth, A. L., Gendler, T. S., & Gross, J. J. (2016). Situational strategies for self-control. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 11, 35–55. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691615623247Google Scholar
Fishbach, A., & Hofmann, W. (2015). Nudging self-control: A smartphone intervention of temptation anticipation and goal resolution improves everyday goal progress. Motivation Science, 1, 137. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/mot0000022CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fishbach, A., & Zhang, Y. (2008). Together or apart: When goals and temptations complement versus compete. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94, 547–559. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.94.4.547CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Florsheim, P., Heavin, S., Tiffany, S., Colvin, P., & Hiraoka, R. (2008). An experimental test of a craving management technique for adolescents in substance-abuse treatment. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 37, 1205–1215. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-007-9232-0CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Forman, E. M., Hoffman, K. L., McGrath, K. B., Herbert, J. D., Brandsma, L. L., & Lowe, M. R. (2007). A comparison of acceptance- and control-based strategies for coping with food cravings: An analog study. Behavior Research and Therapy, 45, 2372–2386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2007.04.004CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fujita, K. (2011). On conceptualizing self-control as more than the effortful inhibition of impulses. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 15, 352–366. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868311411165Google Scholar
Fujita, K., & Han, H. A. (2009). Moving beyond deliberative control of impulses: The effect of construal levels on evaluative associations in self-control conflicts. Psychological Science, 20, 799–804. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02372.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Godin, G., & Kok, G. (1996). The theory of planned behavior: A review of its applications to health-related behaviors. American Journal of Health Promotion, 11, 87–98. https://doi.org/10.4278/0890-1171-11.2.87Google Scholar
Hanks, A. S., Just, D. R., Smith, L. E., & Wansink, B. (2012). Healthy convenience: Nudging students toward healthier choices in the lunchroom. Journal of public health, 34, 370–376. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fds003CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hardcastle, S. J., Fortier, M. S., Blake, N., & Hagger, M. S. (2017). Identifying content-based and relational techniques to change behavior in motivational interviewing. Health Psychology Review, 11, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2016.1190659CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hofmann, W., Adriaanse, M., Vohs, K. D., & Baumeister, R. F. (2014). Dieting and the self- control of eating in everyday environments: An experience sampling study. British Journal of Health Psychology, 19, 523–539. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12053Google Scholar
Hofmann, W., Baumeister, R. F., Förster, G., & Vohs, K. D. (2012). Everyday temptations: An experience sampling study of desire, conflict, and self-control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102, 1318–1335. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026545CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hofmann, W., & Fisher, R. R. (2012). How guilt and pride shape subsequent self-control. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 3, 682–690. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550611435136Google Scholar
Hofmann, W., & Kotabe, H. P. (2012). A general model of preventive and interventive self-control. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 6, 707–722. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-9004.2012.00461.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hofmann, W., & Nordgren, L. F. (Eds.). (2015). The Psychology of Desire. New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Hofmann, W., Reinecke, L., Meier, A., & Oliver, M. (2017). Of sweet temptations and bitter aftertaste: Self-control as a moderator of the effects of media use on well-being. In Reinecke, L. & Oliver, M. B. (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Media Use and Well-Being: International Perspectives on Theory and Research on Positive Media Effects (pp. 211–222). New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Hofmann, W., Schmeichel, B. J., & Baddeley, A. D. (2012). Executive functions and self-regulation. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 16, 174–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2012.01.006Google Scholar
Houben, K., Havermans, R. C., & Wiers, R. W. (2010). Learning to dislike alcohol: Conditioning negative implicit attitudes toward alcohol and its effect on drinking behavior. Psychopharmacology, 211, 79–86. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-010-1872-1Google Scholar
Houben, K., Nederkoorn, C., Wiers, R. W., & Jansen, A. (2011). Resisting temptation: Decreasing alcohol-related affect and drinking behavior by training response inhibition. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 116, 132–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.12.011Google Scholar
Houben, K., Schoenmakers, T. M., & Wiers, R. W. (2010). I didn’t feel like drinking but I don’t know why: The effects of evaluative conditioning on alcohol-related attitudes, craving and behavior. Addictive Behaviors, 35, 1161–1163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2010.08.012CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Houben, K., Wiers, R. W., & Jansen, A. (2011). Getting a grip on drinking behavior: Training working memory to reduce alcohol abuse. Psychological Science, 22, 968–975. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611412392Google Scholar
Inzlicht, M., Schmeichel, B. J., & Macrae, C. N. (2014). Why self-control seems (but may not be) limited. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 18, 127–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2013.12.009CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jaeggi, S. M., Buschkuehl, M., Jonides, J., & Perrig, W. J. (2008). Improving fluid intelligence with training on working memory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105, 6829–6833. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0801268105CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Janz, N. K., & Becker, M. H. (1984). The health belief model: A decade later. Health Education Quarterly, 11, 1–47. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019818401100101CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johnson, E. J., & Goldstein, D. (2003). Do defaults save lives? Science, 302, 1338–1339. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1091721Google Scholar
Johnson, B. T., Wolf, L., Maio, G., & Smith-McLallen, A. (2019). Communication-induced persuasion or resistance: Processes and effects of who says what to whom. In Johnson, B. T. & Albarracín, D. (Eds.), The Handbook of Attitudes (2nd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 557–601). New York, NY: Psychology Press.Google Scholar
Kavanagh, D. J., Andrade, J., & May, J. (2005). Imaginary relish and exquisite torture: The elaborated intrusion theory of desire. Psychological Review, 112, 446–467. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295x.112.2.446Google Scholar
Kotabe, H. P., & Hofmann, W. (2015). On integrating the components of self-control. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10, 618–638. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691615593382Google Scholar
Kruglanski, A. W., Belanger, J. J., Chen, X. Y., Kopetz, C., Pierro, A., & Mannetti, L. (2012). The energetics of motivated cognition: A force-field analysis. Psychological Review, 119, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1037/A0025488Google Scholar
Kruglanski, A. W., Shah, J. Y., Fishbach, A., Friedman, R., Chun, W. Y., & Sleeth-Keppler, D. (2002). A theory of goal systems. In Zanna, M. P. (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (pp. 331–378). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Krönke, K.-M., Wolff, M., Mohr, H. et al. (2018). Monitor yourself! Deficient error-related brain activity predicts real-life self-control failures. Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Neuroscience, 18, 622–637. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13415-018-0593-5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lewin, K. (1951). Field Theory in Social Science: Selected Theoretical Papers. Oxford: Harper.Google Scholar
Lian, H., Yam, K. C., Ferris, D. L., & Brown, D. (2017). Self-control at work. Academy of Management Annals, 11, 703–732. https://doi.org/10.5465/annals.2015.0126Google Scholar
Lopez, R. B., Hofmann, W., Wagner, D. D., Kelley, W. M., & Heatherton, T. F. (2014). Neural predictors of giving in to temptation in daily life. Psychological Science, 25, 1337–1344. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614531492Google Scholar
Mahoney, M. J., & Thoresen, C. E. (1972). Behavioral self-control: Power to the person. Educational Researcher, 1, 5–7. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X001010005CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McFall, R. M. (1970). Effects of self-monitoring on normal smoking behavior. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 35, 135–142. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0030087CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Metcalfe, J., & Mischel, W. (1999). A hot/cool-system analysis of delay of gratification: Dynamics of willpower. Psychological Review, 106, 3–19. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.106.1.3Google Scholar
Michie, S., Atkins, L., & West, R. (2014). The Behavior Change Wheel: A Guide to Designing Interventions. London: Silverback Publishing.Google Scholar
Michie, S., Van Stralen, M. M., & West, R. (2011). The behavior change wheel: A new method for characterising and designing behavior change interventions. Implementation Science, 6, 42. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-6-42Google Scholar
Milkman, K. L., Minson, J. A., & Volpp, K. G. (2013). Holding the Hunger Games hostage at the gym: An evaluation of temptation bundling. Management Science, 60, 283–299. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2013.1784Google Scholar
Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2012). Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change (3rd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Mischel, W., Ebbesen, E. B., & Zeiss, A. M. (1972). Cognitive and attentional mechanisms in delay of gratification. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 21, 204–218. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0032198Google Scholar
Mischel, W., Shoda, Y., & Peake, P. K. (1988). The nature of adolescent competencies predicted by preschool delay of gratification. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 687–696. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.54.4.687Google Scholar
Moffitt, T. E., Arseneault, L., Belsky, D. et al. (2011). A gradient of childhood self-control predicts health, wealth, and public safety. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108, 2693–2698. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1010076108Google Scholar
Moskowitz, G. B., & Grant, H. (Eds.). (2009). The Psychology of Goals. New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Nielsen, K. S. (2017). From prediction to process: A self-regulation account of environmental behavior change. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 51, 189–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2017.04.002Google Scholar
Olesen, P. J., Westerberg, H., & Klingberg, T. (2003). Increased prefrontal and parietal activity after training of working memory. Nature Neuroscience, 7, 75–79. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1165CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ozaki, Y., Goto, T., Kobayashi, M., & Hofmann, W. (2017). Counteractive control over temptations: Promoting resistance through enhanced perception of conflict and goal value. Self and Identity, 16, 439–459. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2016.1269668Google Scholar
Pichert, D., & Katsikopoulos, K. V. (2008). Green defaults: Information presentation and pro-environmental behaviour. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 28, 63–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2007.09.004CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schelling, T. C. (1984). Self-command in practice, in policy, and in a theory of rational choice. The American Economic Review, 74, 1–11.Google Scholar
Schroeder, S. A. (2007). We can do better: Improving the health of the American people. New England Journal of Medicine, 357, 1221–1228. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsa073350Google Scholar
Shipstead, Z., Redick, T. S., & Engle, R. W. (2012). Is working memory training effective? Psychological Bulletin, 138, 628–654. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027473Google Scholar
Sobal, J., & Wansink, B. (2007). Kitchenscapes, tablescapes, platescapes, and foodscapes: Influences of microscale built environments on food intake. Environment and Behavior, 39, 124–142. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916506295574Google Scholar
Strecher, V. J., Seijts, G. H., Kok, G. J. et al. (1995). Goal-setting as a strategy for health behavior-change. Health Education Quarterly, 22, 190–200. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019819502200207Google Scholar
Swan, M. (2013). The quantified self: Fundamental disruption in big data science and biological discovery. Big Data, 1, 85–99. https://doi.org/10.1089/big.2012.0002CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tangney, J. P., Baumeister, R. F., & Boone, A. L. (2004). High self‐control predicts good adjustment, less pathology, better grades, and interpersonal success. Journal of Personality, 72, 271–324. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-3506.2004.00263.xGoogle Scholar
Thaler, R. H., & Sunstein, C. R. (2009). Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness. New York: Penguin Books.Google Scholar
Thaler, R. H., Sunstein, C. R., & Balz, J. P. (2010). Choice architecture. SSRN. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1583509Google Scholar
Thorndike, A. N., Sonnenberg, L., Riis, J., Barraclough, S., & Levy, D. E. (2012). A 2-phase labeling and choice architecture intervention to improve healthy food and beverage choices. Journal of Public Health, 102, 527–533. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300391Google ScholarPubMed
Thush, C., Wiers, R. W., Moerbeek, M. et al. (2009). Influence of motivational interviewing on explicit and implicit alcohol-related cognition and alcohol use in at-risk adolescents. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 23, 146–151. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013789Google Scholar
Trope, Y., & Fishbach, A. (2000). Counteractive self-control in overcoming temptation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 493–506. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.79.4.493Google Scholar
Van Dillen, L., Papies, E. K., & Hofmann, W. (2013). Turning a blind eye to temptation: How task load can facilitate self-regulation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 104, 427–443. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031262Google Scholar
Van Gucht, D., Baeyens, F., Vansteenwegen, D., Hermans, D., & Beckers, T. (2010). Counterconditioning reduces cue-induced craving and actual cue-elicited consumption. Emotion, 10, 688–695. https://doi.org/10.1037/A0019463Google Scholar
Webb, T. L., Miles, E., & Sheeran, P. (2012). Dealing with feeling: A meta-analysis of the effectiveness of strategies derived from the process model of emotion regulation. Psychological Bulletin, 138, 775–808. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027600CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wiers, R. W., Eberl, C., Rinck, M., Becker, E. S., & Lindenmeyer, J. (2011). Retraining automatic action tendencies changes alcoholic patients’ approach bias for alcohol and improves treatment outcome. Psychological Science, 22, 490–497. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611400615Google Scholar
Yon, B. A., Johnson, R. K., Harvey-Berino, J., Gold, B. C., & Howard, A. B. (2007). Personal digital assistants are comparable to traditional diaries for dietary self-monitoring during a weight loss program. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 30, 165–175.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×