RS61 - Willpower
Release date: May 20, 2012
This episode of Rationally Speaking is all about the age-old problem of willpower: why don't we do what we know is best for us? Massimo introduces some of the early philosophical approaches to this puzzle, and then Massimo and Julia go over more recent scientific research on the issue (for example: does resisting temptation deplete your reserves of willpower, or does it strengthen your willpower "muscle"?). They also examine possible solutions to the problem, including betting and precommitment, and online programs that can help.
Julia's pick: predictionbook.com
Massimo's pick: yourlogicalfallacyis.com
References:
The Procrastination Equation: How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Stuff Done
http://www.stickk.com
Why It's OK to Let Apps Make You a Better Person
8 Comments
Reader Comments (8)
15 min. into the discussion, Julia mentions that "they should also test what happens when people think they had been given a sugar pill..."
In fact, Carol Dweck (famous for her mindset research) has done something along the same lines, and she contends that it's all about the mindset (http://pss.sagepub.com/content/21/11/1686). Arguing the other side is Roy Baumeister, who does a lot of research into ego-depletion and has several experiments which claim to control for this (sweet-tasting sugar-free drinks are used as placebos).
Thanks for the excellent (as usual) podcast!
Julia mentions the same research at 22 min. Next time I shall wait before I post! :)
Sorry!
Regarding the hypothesis "willpower depletes glucose" which study are you referencing? AFAIK it has been discredited already, see:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mind-design/201108/glucose-is-not-willpower-fuel
Is it rational for you to make sacrifices now for some future "you" who doesn't even exist?
Deja vu! Wasn't there something else with a strangely specific side effect?
Don't I recall this being broadcast before?
Massimo mentions research suggesting that intrinsically religious people, especially those with a monotheistic, Judeo-Christian belief system, have more willpower than the non-religious. He speculates that this additional willpower might be a result of practicing self-denial from an early age. Could it not also (or additionally) be a sort of "Princess Alice" effect, with "God" as Princess Alice? (see this paper: Princess Alice is Watching You or Jesse Bering's book, "The Belief Instinct") If one really believed that someone were constantly watching and judging one's actions, it would probably be a boost to willpower!
A very enjoyable and very instructive episode.
One little criticism though: sometimes (frequently?) procrastination stems from us not identifying with goals on which certain tasks are grounded. For instance, a low efficiency at work (hardly getting anything done) could be mere procrastination, but it could equally well be a sign of the person not thriving at work, or a sign of work not being conducive for work, etc.