Self-Control & Task Timing: Shifting Self-Efficacy for Effortful Tasks

How do self-control levels influence perceived ability to complete tasks based on timing?

Self-control levels significantly influence perceived ability to complete tasks based on timing. Specifically, low self-control (LSC) individuals report higher self-efficacy for distant-future effortful tasks than for near-future tasks, whereas high self-control (HSC) individuals report higher self-efficacy for near-future tasks than for distant future tasks. This interplay between task timing and individual self-control levels is a key factor influencing people’s inclination to engage in effortful tasks. Across three studies, we show that these two factors have an interacting effect on self-efficacy, which then molds individuals’ willingness to engage in those effortful tasks. The effects emerge when effortful aspects are salient and are eliminated when enjoyable aspects are highlighted. Link to the paper

Across three studies, we show that these two factors have an interacting effect on self-efficacy. Low self-control (LSC) individuals report higher self-efficacy for distant-future effortful tasks than for near-future tasks, whereas high self-control (HSC) individuals report higher self-efficacy for near-future tasks than for distant future tasks.

We further demonstrate how self-efficacy then molds individuals’ willingness to engage in those effortful tasks. Given that a particular task may comprise effortful aspects alongside more enjoyable aspects, we show that the effects we observe emerge with regard to a task whose effortful aspects are salient and that the effects are eliminated when the enjoyable aspects of that same task are highlighted.

Link to the paper