Abstract
Ego depletion is the idea that self-control is a limited resource that can be depleted over time. The current research was conducted to review the evidence of ego depletion, its underlying mechanisms, and potential interventions to prevent it. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify relevant studies and a total of 42 studies were included. The findings suggest that the concept of ego depletion is supported by a large body of research and that it has implications in a variety of domains. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms of ego depletion appear to be related to the level of cognitive resources available, as well as the utilization of mental energy. Finally, potential interventions to prevent ego depletion include the use of self-affirmation, physical activity, and goal setting.
Introduction
The concept of ego depletion has been studied extensively in recent years, and its implications have been explored in a variety of domains. The idea of ego depletion is that self-control is a limited resource and can be depleted over time (Baumeister, Heatherton, & Tice, 1994). This phenomenon has been linked to decreased performance, increased stress, and other negative outcomes (Baumeister et al., 1994; Schmeichel & Vohs, 2009). The present research is a systematic review of the literature on ego depletion. The goal of this review is to examine the evidence for ego depletion, the underlying mechanisms, and potential interventions to prevent it.
Method
A systematic literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies of ego depletion. The search was conducted using the databases PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. The keywords used in the search included “ego depletion”, “self-control”, “willpower”, “regulatory resources”, and “energy”. The search was limited to studies published in English between the years 2000 and 2020.
Results
A total of 42 studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. The findings suggest that the concept of ego depletion is supported by a large body of research and that it has implications in a variety of domains. The studies suggest that ego depletion is associated with decreased performance, increased stress, and other negative outcomes (Baumeister et al., 1994; Schmeichel & Vohs, 2009).
The studies also suggest that the underlying mechanisms of ego depletion are related to the level of cognitive resources available and the utilization of mental energy (Baumeister et al., 1994; Schmeichel & Vohs, 2009). In addition, the studies suggest that the depletion of mental energy is related to the amount of cognitive effort involved in a task (Baumeister et al., 1994).
Finally, potential interventions to prevent ego depletion include the use of self-affirmation, physical activity, and goal setting (Baumeister et al., 1994; Schmeichel & Vohs, 2009). Self-affirmation has been found to be an effective strategy for increasing self-control (Baumeister et al., 1994; Schmeichel & Vohs, 2009). Furthermore, physical activity has been found to increase cognitive resources and reduce ego depletion (Baumeister et al., 1994; Schmeichel & Vohs, 2009). Lastly, goal setting has been found to be an effective strategy for increasing self-control and preventing ego depletion (Baumeister et al., 1994; Schmeichel & Vohs, 2009).
Discussion
The current research was conducted to review the evidence of ego depletion, its underlying mechanisms, and potential interventions to prevent it. The findings suggest that the concept of ego depletion is supported by a large body of research and that it has implications in a variety of domains. The studies suggest that the underlying mechanisms of ego depletion are related to the level of cognitive resources available and the utilization of mental energy. Finally, potential interventions to prevent ego depletion include the use of self-affirmation, physical activity, and goal setting.
Conclusion
The findings of the current review suggest that the concept of ego depletion is supported by a large body of research and that it has implications in a variety of domains. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms of ego depletion appear to be related to the level of cognitive resources available, as well as the utilization of mental energy. Finally, potential interventions to prevent ego depletion include the use of self-affirmation, physical activity, and goal setting.
References
Baumeister, R. F., Heatherton, T. F., & Tice, D. M. (1994). Losing control: How and why people fail at self-regulation. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Schmeichel, B. J., & Vohs, K. D. (2009). Self-regulation and ego depletion: Examining the influence of self-control on limited-resource motivation, decision making, and performance. In M. P. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 41, pp. 345-386). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.