Too much of a good thing? Exploring the inverted-U relationship between self-control and happiness. Journal Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • OBJECTIVE: Can having too much self-control make people unhappy? Researchers have increasingly questioned the unilateral goodness of self-control and proposed that it is beneficial only up to a certain point, after which it becomes detrimental. The little empirical research on the issue shows mixed results. Hence, we tested whether a curvilinear relationship between self-control and subjective well-being exists. METHOD: We used multiple metrics (questionnaires, behavioral ratings), sources (self-report, other-report), and methods (cross-sectional measurement, dayreconstruction method, experience sampling method) across six studies (Ntotal  = 5,318). RESULTS: We found that self-control positively predicted subjective well-being (cognitive and affective), but there was little evidence for an inverted U-shaped curve. The results held after statistically controlling for demographics and other psychological confounds. CONCLUSION: Our main finding is that self-control enhances subjective well-being with little to no apparent downside of too much self-control.

publication date

  • June 1, 2018

has restriction

  • bronze

Date in CU Experts

  • May 12, 2017 9:08 AM

Full Author List

  • Wiese CW; Tay L; Duckworth AL; D'Mello S; Kuykendall L; Hofmann W; Baumeister RF; Vohs KD

author count

  • 8

Other Profiles

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1467-6494

Additional Document Info

start page

  • 380

end page

  • 396

volume

  • 86

issue

  • 3