Inzlicht: Integrating models of self-regulation
Self-regulation
There are too many models. Each model describes self-regulation at a different
level of analysis, and there is not enough integration.
Some models focus only on goals, others on willpower, others on human
personality and traits, and others on conflicts between goals and temptations.
This article looks at how these different models can be integrated. This
integration will show us where models converge, and where more research is
needed.
Distinction between Self-Regulation, Self-Control, and Cognitive Control
Self-regulation and Self-control are different processes.
Self-regulation:
This is a dynamic process: a desired end state is determined, and actions are
taken to reach this goal, and this process is monitored. Thus, it has not only to
do with behaviors, but also with thoughts, and emotions. It is an umbrella term
that relates to goal pursuit: how to pursuit, how to plan, how to shield goals from
competing concerns. Thus, it reflects the various ways in which people modify
their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in the service of a personal goal. This
includes self-control.
Self-control:
Is one form of self-regulation, but not all forms of self-regulation have to do with
self-control. Self-control is defined as the process of resolving conflict between
two competing goals. It is often characterized as two different types of goals:
immediate reward and long term reward. But, the authors in this article state do
not make this distinction. They look at self-control as a conflict between any two
goals, no matter the difference (so also two long-term reward goals).
Often seen as inhibition. However, it does not always have to be inhibition and
effort. It can also be proactive forms.
The difference between self-regulation and self-control:
Self-control is about conflicts between competing goals. Self-regulation can be
conflict free and refers to a broader process: setting goals, monitoring, etcetera.
Cognitive control / executive function
This refers to the attentional processes which allow behavior to vary from
moment to moment, based on current goals. This cognitive control refers to the
allociation of attention in the service of goal-directed behavior, when there are
other alternative behaviors.
Earlier, self-regulation was seen as reliant on cognitive control. However,
measures of each construct are unrelated. The difference is that cognitive control
exists of low-level cognitive operations (attention, working memory), and self-
regulation refers to flexible adjustment in behaviors in the real world.
, Cognitive control consists of three distinct factors: inhibition, attentional shifting,
and working-memory updating.
Self-regulation: Non-cognitive factors important for success.
The different models of Self-Regulation
Cybernetic Control
Science of control in animals and machines. It is based on four key elements:
1) A goal, set point, standard
2) Input about the current state of the organism with regards to the goal
3) A monitoring system that monitors conflict or discrepancies between the
set point and the current state
4) A system that implements changes that reduce the discrepancy
Connected through a feedback loop: the implementing system feeds back
to change the current state of the organism, after which the current state
is again monitored. This is repeated until the discrepancy disappears.
Neural systems
Neural systems are responsible for monitoring conflicts between competing
response tendencies, or between predictions and outcomes.
Conflict monitoring theory:
A monitoring system in the dACC locates action tendencies for potential conflicts,
so control mechanisms in the dPFC can override unwanted tendencies.
Goal Systems Theory
Goals: cognitive representations of desired end states.
There is not a feedback loop, but a structural organization of goals and means
which impact the self-regulation process.
Goals and their instrumental means -> hierarchical interconnected network ->
‘goal system’. The strength of various goal-means associations ultimately drives
behaviour. So, the means that are more strongly associated with a specific goal,
are more likely to be selected than means that have a weaker connection.
When a goal has a lot of means, this decreases the strength of each goal-mean
connection. Goals with fewer means (unique means) have stronger connections,
and this increases the likelihood of choosing this mean.
Unifinal means: Means that lead to reaching a single goal goal. (Having fun =
roller coaster).
Multifinal means: Having fun + staying connected: Means that advance multiple
goals, simultaneously. -> Playing a card game with a friend. -> “Greater bang
for the psychological buck.”
Dual Systems Models
Assume that there are two distinct systems: System I and System II.
Self-regulation
There are too many models. Each model describes self-regulation at a different
level of analysis, and there is not enough integration.
Some models focus only on goals, others on willpower, others on human
personality and traits, and others on conflicts between goals and temptations.
This article looks at how these different models can be integrated. This
integration will show us where models converge, and where more research is
needed.
Distinction between Self-Regulation, Self-Control, and Cognitive Control
Self-regulation and Self-control are different processes.
Self-regulation:
This is a dynamic process: a desired end state is determined, and actions are
taken to reach this goal, and this process is monitored. Thus, it has not only to
do with behaviors, but also with thoughts, and emotions. It is an umbrella term
that relates to goal pursuit: how to pursuit, how to plan, how to shield goals from
competing concerns. Thus, it reflects the various ways in which people modify
their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in the service of a personal goal. This
includes self-control.
Self-control:
Is one form of self-regulation, but not all forms of self-regulation have to do with
self-control. Self-control is defined as the process of resolving conflict between
two competing goals. It is often characterized as two different types of goals:
immediate reward and long term reward. But, the authors in this article state do
not make this distinction. They look at self-control as a conflict between any two
goals, no matter the difference (so also two long-term reward goals).
Often seen as inhibition. However, it does not always have to be inhibition and
effort. It can also be proactive forms.
The difference between self-regulation and self-control:
Self-control is about conflicts between competing goals. Self-regulation can be
conflict free and refers to a broader process: setting goals, monitoring, etcetera.
Cognitive control / executive function
This refers to the attentional processes which allow behavior to vary from
moment to moment, based on current goals. This cognitive control refers to the
allociation of attention in the service of goal-directed behavior, when there are
other alternative behaviors.
Earlier, self-regulation was seen as reliant on cognitive control. However,
measures of each construct are unrelated. The difference is that cognitive control
exists of low-level cognitive operations (attention, working memory), and self-
regulation refers to flexible adjustment in behaviors in the real world.
, Cognitive control consists of three distinct factors: inhibition, attentional shifting,
and working-memory updating.
Self-regulation: Non-cognitive factors important for success.
The different models of Self-Regulation
Cybernetic Control
Science of control in animals and machines. It is based on four key elements:
1) A goal, set point, standard
2) Input about the current state of the organism with regards to the goal
3) A monitoring system that monitors conflict or discrepancies between the
set point and the current state
4) A system that implements changes that reduce the discrepancy
Connected through a feedback loop: the implementing system feeds back
to change the current state of the organism, after which the current state
is again monitored. This is repeated until the discrepancy disappears.
Neural systems
Neural systems are responsible for monitoring conflicts between competing
response tendencies, or between predictions and outcomes.
Conflict monitoring theory:
A monitoring system in the dACC locates action tendencies for potential conflicts,
so control mechanisms in the dPFC can override unwanted tendencies.
Goal Systems Theory
Goals: cognitive representations of desired end states.
There is not a feedback loop, but a structural organization of goals and means
which impact the self-regulation process.
Goals and their instrumental means -> hierarchical interconnected network ->
‘goal system’. The strength of various goal-means associations ultimately drives
behaviour. So, the means that are more strongly associated with a specific goal,
are more likely to be selected than means that have a weaker connection.
When a goal has a lot of means, this decreases the strength of each goal-mean
connection. Goals with fewer means (unique means) have stronger connections,
and this increases the likelihood of choosing this mean.
Unifinal means: Means that lead to reaching a single goal goal. (Having fun =
roller coaster).
Multifinal means: Having fun + staying connected: Means that advance multiple
goals, simultaneously. -> Playing a card game with a friend. -> “Greater bang
for the psychological buck.”
Dual Systems Models
Assume that there are two distinct systems: System I and System II.
