Self-Regulation
Lecture 1
Self-regulation (SR) is related to .. being able to transcend immediate temptations in service
of long-term goals.
Success versus failure
Good SR relates to: success In school, work, relationships, health etc.
Bad SR predictor of: alcohol use, drug use, STD, Gambling, ED, crime etc.
What is Self-Regulation?
SR refers to the self’s capacity to alter its behaviors in accordance to certain standards, ideals
or goals either stemming from internal or societal expectations.
Goal setting
Goal striving
Dealing with frustration and distraction. It is not as easy as goals, by definition, refer
to a future desired state that is not so obvious.
Discrepancy between the current and desired state is uncomfortable and motivates action –
under certain conditions.
Conflict plays central role
Without goals no conflict and no self-regulation
Self-regulation theory
Cognitive revolution response to behaviorsm (stimulus-response associations)
Interpretation of the stimulus and mental representations
Comparisons with a thermostat
Monitoring process (what is the temperature/what do you want it to be?)
Operating process (adding heat to get to goal temperature)
TOTE model
Test: representation of problem state (identify standard)
Operate: intervene in some way
Test again: To see if the desired result has been achieved. If not loop back to operate
Exit: Problem solved.
Lecture 1
Self-regulation (SR) is related to .. being able to transcend immediate temptations in service
of long-term goals.
Success versus failure
Good SR relates to: success In school, work, relationships, health etc.
Bad SR predictor of: alcohol use, drug use, STD, Gambling, ED, crime etc.
What is Self-Regulation?
SR refers to the self’s capacity to alter its behaviors in accordance to certain standards, ideals
or goals either stemming from internal or societal expectations.
Goal setting
Goal striving
Dealing with frustration and distraction. It is not as easy as goals, by definition, refer
to a future desired state that is not so obvious.
Discrepancy between the current and desired state is uncomfortable and motivates action –
under certain conditions.
Conflict plays central role
Without goals no conflict and no self-regulation
Self-regulation theory
Cognitive revolution response to behaviorsm (stimulus-response associations)
Interpretation of the stimulus and mental representations
Comparisons with a thermostat
Monitoring process (what is the temperature/what do you want it to be?)
Operating process (adding heat to get to goal temperature)
TOTE model
Test: representation of problem state (identify standard)
Operate: intervene in some way
Test again: To see if the desired result has been achieved. If not loop back to operate
Exit: Problem solved.
