A Preregistered Test of Competing Theories to Explain Ego Depletion Effects Using Psychophysiological Indicators of Mental Effort

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Standard

A Preregistered Test of Competing Theories to Explain Ego Depletion Effects Using Psychophysiological Indicators of Mental Effort. / Gieseler, Karolin; Loschelder, David D.; Job, Veronika et al.
In: Motivation Science, Vol. 7, No. 1, 01.03.2021, p. 32-45.

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Harvard

APA

Vancouver

Bibtex

@article{2aa7b10107314a78aba6c7d30fb75a3f,
title = "A Preregistered Test of Competing Theories to Explain Ego Depletion Effects Using Psychophysiological Indicators of Mental Effort",
abstract = "A prominent, hotly debated idea—the “ego depletion” phenomenon—suggests that engaging in effortful, demanding tasks leads to poorer subsequent self-control performance. Several theories seek to explain the emergence of ego depletion effects. The two most prominent ones are the strength model of self-control (Baumeister & Vohs, 2016) and the process model of self-control (Inzlicht & Schmeichel, 2012). Predictions of these models are predominantly identical on the behavioral level. The models{\textquoteright} predictions differ, however, on the level of invested mental effort. The present pre-registered study (N = 179) contrasted these competing predictions combining an established moderator counteracting ego depletion effects (i.e., self-affirmation) and psychophysiological indicators of mental effort (i.e., systolic blood pressure and preejection period). Our data provide moderate evidence for ego depletion—decrements in self-control performance after a high- versus low-demanding task in the nonaffirmed conditions. Self-affirmation had an unexpected effect: Contrary to previous research, self-affirmed participants performed similarly poorly as participants in the high demand + nonaffirmed condition. Although this unexpected finding limited the ability to contrast competing model predictions, it points to hitherto unknown effects of self-affirmation on self-control performance. Systolic blood pressure reactivity emerged as a valid indicator of invested mental effort, but the data show no sign of disengagement after a high-demanding task predicted by the process (but not the strength) model. We explore systolic blood pressure progression across the sequential task paradigm, suggest a testable account for the effects of self-affirmation on self-control performance, and discuss theoretical implications of the results for the two competing models. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)",
keywords = "blood pressure, ego depletion, mental effort, preejection period, self-control, Business psychology",
author = "Karolin Gieseler and Loschelder, {David D.} and Veronika Job and Malte Friese",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 American Psychological Association",
year = "2021",
month = mar,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1037/mot0000183",
language = "English",
volume = "7",
pages = "32--45",
journal = "Motivation Science",
issn = "2333-8113",
publisher = "American Psychological Association Inc.",
number = "1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Preregistered Test of Competing Theories to Explain Ego Depletion Effects Using Psychophysiological Indicators of Mental Effort

AU - Gieseler, Karolin

AU - Loschelder, David D.

AU - Job, Veronika

AU - Friese, Malte

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2020 American Psychological Association

PY - 2021/3/1

Y1 - 2021/3/1

N2 - A prominent, hotly debated idea—the “ego depletion” phenomenon—suggests that engaging in effortful, demanding tasks leads to poorer subsequent self-control performance. Several theories seek to explain the emergence of ego depletion effects. The two most prominent ones are the strength model of self-control (Baumeister & Vohs, 2016) and the process model of self-control (Inzlicht & Schmeichel, 2012). Predictions of these models are predominantly identical on the behavioral level. The models’ predictions differ, however, on the level of invested mental effort. The present pre-registered study (N = 179) contrasted these competing predictions combining an established moderator counteracting ego depletion effects (i.e., self-affirmation) and psychophysiological indicators of mental effort (i.e., systolic blood pressure and preejection period). Our data provide moderate evidence for ego depletion—decrements in self-control performance after a high- versus low-demanding task in the nonaffirmed conditions. Self-affirmation had an unexpected effect: Contrary to previous research, self-affirmed participants performed similarly poorly as participants in the high demand + nonaffirmed condition. Although this unexpected finding limited the ability to contrast competing model predictions, it points to hitherto unknown effects of self-affirmation on self-control performance. Systolic blood pressure reactivity emerged as a valid indicator of invested mental effort, but the data show no sign of disengagement after a high-demanding task predicted by the process (but not the strength) model. We explore systolic blood pressure progression across the sequential task paradigm, suggest a testable account for the effects of self-affirmation on self-control performance, and discuss theoretical implications of the results for the two competing models. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

AB - A prominent, hotly debated idea—the “ego depletion” phenomenon—suggests that engaging in effortful, demanding tasks leads to poorer subsequent self-control performance. Several theories seek to explain the emergence of ego depletion effects. The two most prominent ones are the strength model of self-control (Baumeister & Vohs, 2016) and the process model of self-control (Inzlicht & Schmeichel, 2012). Predictions of these models are predominantly identical on the behavioral level. The models’ predictions differ, however, on the level of invested mental effort. The present pre-registered study (N = 179) contrasted these competing predictions combining an established moderator counteracting ego depletion effects (i.e., self-affirmation) and psychophysiological indicators of mental effort (i.e., systolic blood pressure and preejection period). Our data provide moderate evidence for ego depletion—decrements in self-control performance after a high- versus low-demanding task in the nonaffirmed conditions. Self-affirmation had an unexpected effect: Contrary to previous research, self-affirmed participants performed similarly poorly as participants in the high demand + nonaffirmed condition. Although this unexpected finding limited the ability to contrast competing model predictions, it points to hitherto unknown effects of self-affirmation on self-control performance. Systolic blood pressure reactivity emerged as a valid indicator of invested mental effort, but the data show no sign of disengagement after a high-demanding task predicted by the process (but not the strength) model. We explore systolic blood pressure progression across the sequential task paradigm, suggest a testable account for the effects of self-affirmation on self-control performance, and discuss theoretical implications of the results for the two competing models. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

KW - blood pressure

KW - ego depletion

KW - mental effort

KW - preejection period

KW - self-control

KW - Business psychology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85088453028&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/61e112ed-9904-30f2-ada8-9c3957dfb790/

U2 - 10.1037/mot0000183

DO - 10.1037/mot0000183

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 7

SP - 32

EP - 45

JO - Motivation Science

JF - Motivation Science

SN - 2333-8113

IS - 1

ER -

DOI

Recently viewed

Publications

  1. Where is (im)balance? Necessity and construction of evaluated cut-off points for effort-reward imbalance and overcommitment
  2. Extraction of information from invoices - challenges in the extraction pipeline
  3. Der Sturm
  4. Tree species and genetic diversity increase productivity via functional diversity and trophic feedbacks
  5. Fluid-structure interaction modelling of a soft pneumatic actuator
  6. Anticipated imitation of multiple agents
  7. Leaf trait variation within individuals mediates the relationship between tree species richness and productivity
  8. Operationalizing Network Theory for Ecosystem Service Assessments
  9. Robust and Optimal Control Designed for Autonomous Surface Vessel Prototypes
  10. Kontext
  11. Quand la mémoire devient image de souvenier
  12. Case study: The development of a multi-material heat sink by Additive Manufacturing using Aerosint technology
  13. Microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-3Sn-1Ca reinforced with AlN nano-particles
  14. Evaluating the effectiveness of retention forestry to enhance biodiversity in production forests of Central Europe using an interdisciplinary, multi-scale approach
  15. Headway Control and Comfort in Vehicle Automation
  16. Parameters, concepts and the terminology of outer space law: a review of the essential facilities served by outer space activities and the rules of interpretation for treaty law and soft law guidelines.
  17. Editorial: Governance for Sustainable Development in the Face of Ambivalence, Uncertainty and Distributed Power: an Introduction
  18. Species loss due to nutrient addition increases with spatial scale in global grasslands
  19. Identification of Parameters and States in PMSMs