Once we have self-control why do we lose control over some behavior?

         ONCE WE HAVE SELF-CONTROL WHY DO WE LOSE OVER SOME BEHAVIOR ?


          Baumeister, Heatherton & Tice (1994) do a good job of explaining our failures at self-control, e.g. giving up during the performance of a task, losing control over our thoughts or emotions, and letting some habit (eating, drinking, smoking, buying, etc.) get out of control. Unfortunately, these authors' work is of limited value because it doesn't tell us much about how to prevent the loss of self-control. However, by understanding the process by which we lose control, perhaps science can help us learn how to maintain self-control. You will recognize that "blocks," discussed above, have much in common with "loss of self-control."

          Three steps are needed for us to be in self-control. First, we need "standards," i.e. to know what we want to do or should do. Second, we need to be aware if our behavior is failing to meet our standards. Third, we need to be able to correct our behavior when it becomes sub-standard (this is what the ordinary person would often call "will power"). Failure in any of the three steps will lead to poor self-control: if we don't know where we are going, if we don't pay attention to see if we are getting there, and if we don't know how (or don't have the strength--see blocks) to get back on track if we get lost.

          Here are some of the more common ways we lose self-control: we set no goals or impossible goals; we lose control or don't pay attention to our goals or to our behavior; we quit because we get tired or stressed and weakened; we attend to our immediate situation and needs overlooking long-range goals; we misjudge what is important to do; we focus on calming our emotions but neglect doing our tasks or solving our problems; we become obsessed with protecting our egos and neglect getting the job done; we let the initial failure lead to a "snowballing" of many failures (see relapse prevention below); we believe in venting our feelings rather than in eliminating the emotions; we decide we are helpless or bad and stop trying in order to avoid further failure.

         Solutions to losing self-control? Set goals, monitor your progress carefully, reward desired behavior, and practice self-control and in the process learn as much as possible about the self-help methods that work for you. As Baumeister, Heatherton & Tice explain, one barrier to gaining this self-knowledge is that most people don't really want to know a lot of accurate information about themselves. Our species prefers to be told positive things or, at most, be told negative things they already believe about themselves. We resolutely avoid accurate self-knowledge about our weaknesses. The more we can overcome this I-don't-want-to-know-the-truth trait, the better we can gain selfcontrol.