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It is often thought that having “self-control” is essential to success in life. But self-control is not everything. Psychologists Michael Inzlicht and Brent Roberts argue that this notion is overused. According to them, successful individuals are, above all, self-aware.
The two specialists return to the notion of self-control in an articlerecently published in the journal Current Opinion in Psychology. They explain that self-control is often perceived as a personality trait, lasting and stable, linked to self-awareness. Several scientific studies have also shown that people with a great capacity for introspection succeed better in their studies and in their professional life than those who have less perspective on their thoughts and on themselves. They would also be more appreciated and maintain better relationships with their peers.Self-control is a highly valued quality. People who have a lot of it are valued and seen as morally virtuous.“, explain Michael Inzlicht and Brent Roberts in their article.
Self-control is underpinned by mental mechanisms similar to those on which self-awareness is based. However, it is not possible to maintain control of one’s thoughts, emotions and behaviors at all times.Willpower is usually fragile, unreliable and weak“, notes Michael Inzlicht in a press release. Just like muscles, self-control must be maintained. It is an illusion to think that our control abilities are limitless, just as it is to believe that where there is a will, there is a way.
Michael Inzlicht and Brent Roberts argue that simply exercising self-control is not enough to increase your chances of success.Perhaps we have taken the concept of “self-control” too seriously when we have examined the causal mechanisms underlying it. It may be that other aspects of the broader domain of self-awareness, such as diligence or organizational skills, have been at the origin of this causal mechanism.“, they write in their article.
In other words, success would be more linked to our ability to project ourselves into the future and anticipate the impact of our actions than to the fact of being able to restrain our gestures, our reasoning and our impulses at every moment.Self-consciousness is not explained by the exercise of will, but by the avoidance of the very necessity of exercising it.“, say Michael Inzlicht and Brent Roberts. But that doesn’t mean self-control is useless. Self-control is essential to well-being, but it’s not everything.
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