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

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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.

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@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