Most of us start out with the best of intentions. Then we walk right past the fruit bowl in search of the devil’s food cake. Or drink one glass of wine too many. Or, after yet another glass, kiss that co-worker at the holiday party. Unfortunately, life constantly presents us with situations that pit our well-reasoned resolutions against the promise of immediate pleasure. As screen legend Mae West once purred, “I generally avoid temptation unless I can’t resist it.” Withstanding temptation takes self-discipline—no easy trick when immediate gratification plumps our sense of well-being. But it is well worth the effort. Self-control saves us and other people from embarrassing or, worse, damaging consequences.

So why do we so often succumb to the siren song and act against our own self-interests? Scientists have tried for decades to understand this all too human conundrum. Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, viewed all behavior as fallout from conflicts among the id, the ego and the superego. In 1986 psychologist Icek Ajzen of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and economist Thomas J. Madden of the University of South Carolina developed a well-known explanation—the theory of planned behavior—in which all our actions derive from our intentions alone. More recently, though, researchers have turned to models that explain self-control—or a lack thereof—as the outcome of a battle between two emotional systems: our impulses and our powers of reflection.

This article was originally published with the title Control Yourself!.

2 Comments

1. 1. ShakaUVM 04:29 PM 4/28/11

   I think there's a difference between food cravings and other sorts of temptations. You feel physical pain if you go too long without eating, but not for the other examples used in this article.
   
   As far as resisting temptation, I've never understood that. If I don't want to do something, I don't do it. Simple as that. If I do want to do something, I don't try to pretend I'm "tempted" into doing it. "I didn't want to do it, but I did it anyway!" sounds like a contradiction to me - unless you have a gun held to your head (metaphorically or literally), you always do what you want to do.
   
   With food, it's a more complicated subject. I've found, though, that cutting out sugar from my diet has drastically reduced my appetite. So you all might want to try that.

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2. 2. Abhijith Asok 08:18 AM 4/29/11

   I don't think the blind acceptance of any of our desires or passions make us go in the right path always.We may have cravings for certain stuff,credibilities of which can be questioned authoritatively many-a-times.But an insight into the far-reaching consequences of what that can lead you into can very well make your life a better meadow to graze upon.
   
   True,we should be able to do what we want.If we do not do it,its like we are cheating our own self;like the real character in us,is made into a pseudo-prototype and the artificial hologram form which we assume suddenly bounces into reality.But,always there has to be an analysis as to whether "my desires will make everything go well or not.".If you are sure,it won't,better scrap it or take another route;or even move forward bravely,deciding the alternative en route.A few sacrifices from our part can always brighten the sunshine around us.....

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