Ya gotta wanna: Shifting motivational priorities in the self-control process

Abstract

Self-control has important consequences, but key questions remain regarding the underlying mechanisms involved in self-control over time. This research examined this issue, focusing on the process model of depletion. In particular, this study examined have-to and want-to motivation over time to provide a direct examination of central process model propositions and to investigate extensions to this model involving antecedents and outcomes associated with individual differences in have-to and want-to slopes and intercepts. Participants (N = 238) were presented with a self-control task for 45 min and reported have-to and want-to motivation levels every three minutes. Delay of gratification, future time perspective (antecedents), and task performance (outcome) were also measured. Results from multilevel modeling analyses indicated that have-to motivation decreased over time, want-to motivation increased over time, total time on the self-control task predicted have-to slope, future time perspective predicted have-to intercept, and have-to slope predicted task performance. These findings provide support for aspects of the process model, lead to new insights regarding self-control over time, and suggest additional directions for future research to further expand our understanding of control processes.