Willpower as the Key to Life’s Successes [Video]
The decades-long study of self-control has yielded insights into how we can overcome hardships
By Gary Stix
On supporting science journalism
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The psychologist Roy Baumeister has been a pioneer in the study of the key adaptive trait of self-control. His research has yielded the insight that self-control is akin to a form of physical energy, which can be depleted through overuse. Baumeister’s article in the April Scientific American, “Conquer Yourself, Conquer the World,” provides a concise summation of his work—and also an update on recent studies on the relationship of self-control needed to manage addiction to illicit drugs or cigarettes. Watch a video below of Baumeister talking about his work at a conference in Australia.
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