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Too much of a good thing? Exploring the inverted-U relationship between self-control and happiness.
- Source :
-
Journal of personality [J Pers] 2018 Jun; Vol. 86 (3), pp. 380-396. Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Jun 21. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
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.<br />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 (N <subscript>total</subscript> = 5,318).<br />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.<br />Conclusion: Our main finding is that self-control enhances subjective well-being with little to no apparent downside of too much self-control.<br /> (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1467-6494
- Volume :
- 86
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of personality
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 28480971
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12322