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Willpower is overrated

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2021

Michael Inzlicht Open the ORCID record for Michael Inzlicht [Opens in a new window]  and
Malte Friese Open the ORCID record for Malte Friese [Opens in a new window]
Michael Inzlicht
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada michael.inzlicht@utoronto.ca; www.michaelinzlicht.com
Malte Friese
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany. malte.friese@uni-saarland.de; https://www.uni-saarland.de/friese
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Abstract

Any analysis of self-regulation that focuses solely on willpower in conflict-laden situations is insufficient. Research makes clear that the best way to reach one's goal is not to resist temptations but to avoid temptations before they arrive; it further suggests that willpower is fragile and not to be relied on; and that the best self-regulators engage in willpower remarkably seldom.

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Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 44 , 2021 , e42
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Creative Commons
The target article and response article are works of the U.S. Government and are not subject to copyright protection in the United States.
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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