11

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Action and CultureAction and Culture

22

RulesRules

Humans follow rules. They understand them Humans follow rules. They understand them as as abstract prescriptionsabstract prescriptions existing existing independently of any particular individual. independently of any particular individual.

This is species specific. For it rests on the This is species specific. For it rests on the fact that only cultural animals act on the fact that only cultural animals act on the basis of basis of abstract meaningsabstract meanings..

Evolution gave us Evolution gave us free willfree will, so we can , so we can benefit from culture.benefit from culture.

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The behavior-producing system must be The behavior-producing system must be receptive to meaning for the latter is the receptive to meaning for the latter is the vehicle by which culture influences behavior vehicle by which culture influences behavior and allows people to benefit from culture.and allows people to benefit from culture.

BehaviorBehavior

It is aimed at producing good emotions and It is aimed at producing good emotions and avoiding bad ones. avoiding bad ones.

44

Behavior pursues emotionsBehavior pursues emotions

Emotions carry messages from the Emotions carry messages from the motivation system to the cognitive system so motivation system to the cognitive system so they can pass preferences to the behavior they can pass preferences to the behavior system. This happens with both natural and system. This happens with both natural and cultural motivations.cultural motivations.

If culture can teach people to feel good/bad, If culture can teach people to feel good/bad, it then can influence their behavior.it then can influence their behavior.

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Actions and the Duplex MindActions and the Duplex Mind

The duplex mind influences the link between The duplex mind influences the link between thought and action. thought and action.

The conscious system usually embraces The conscious system usually embraces nonviolence while the automatic system can nonviolence while the automatic system can act on the violent inputs one encounters. act on the violent inputs one encounters.

One may face incompatible options ….One may face incompatible options ….

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ThinkingThinking

Can show how to act in a different way from Can show how to act in a different way from the way one would usually act/react. the way one would usually act/react.

BehaviorBehavior

Often guided by automatic processes. Often guided by automatic processes.

Yet the conscious system influences behavior Yet the conscious system influences behavior as well. Thus behavior is influenced by both as well. Thus behavior is influenced by both the automatic and the conscious system.the automatic and the conscious system.

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The conscious system may not decide which The conscious system may not decide which finger to use to ring a bell. finger to use to ring a bell.

But it formulates the grand plan, e.g. to But it formulates the grand plan, e.g. to make a call.make a call.

The conscious mind developed first as a way The conscious mind developed first as a way to override the automatic responses.to override the automatic responses.

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Reward and PunishmentReward and Punishment

Form most animals the reward/punishment Form most animals the reward/punishment must occur immediately after the behavior must occur immediately after the behavior for learning to occur (even a five second for learning to occur (even a five second delay makes learning less efficient and with a delay makes learning less efficient and with a ten second delay rats don’t learn).ten second delay rats don’t learn).

The expanded time processing of people The expanded time processing of people stretches this out so they can learn from stretches this out so they can learn from delay rewards and punishments. Yet speed delay rewards and punishments. Yet speed and certainty of punishment are far more and certainty of punishment are far more efficient than severity of punishment.efficient than severity of punishment.

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Punishment promotes faster learning (e.g.: Punishment promotes faster learning (e.g.: experiment with students show that experiment with students show that punishment promotes faster learning than punishment promotes faster learning than rewarding).rewarding).

Conscious SystemConscious System

The conscious mind learns mainly by trial and The conscious mind learns mainly by trial and error.error.

The ability to figure things out is an advantage The ability to figure things out is an advantage of the conscious system and thus of the of the conscious system and thus of the duplex mind itself.duplex mind itself.

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One also learn One also learn vicariouslyvicariously, i.e. without , i.e. without having to see mistakes/success of others. having to see mistakes/success of others.

GossipingGossiping plays a role here. plays a role here.

EatingEating

Among human it is an action that can create Among human it is an action that can create social bounds. In some cultures norms social bounds. In some cultures norms stipulate that men don’t hurt people they stipulate that men don’t hurt people they share their food with.share their food with.

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Social learningSocial learning

Learning by trial and error wouldn’t be Learning by trial and error wouldn’t be sufficient and fully effective (e.g. imagine sufficient and fully effective (e.g. imagine one learning to drive by trial and error).one learning to drive by trial and error).

Social learning by Social learning by imitationimitation can help. can help.

Observational learning is important among Observational learning is important among cultural animals. It relies on some form of cultural animals. It relies on some form of identification (empathy) between the identification (empathy) between the watcher and the watched.watcher and the watched.

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Social transmission in behavior is Social transmission in behavior is commoncommon. .

Groups of chimps inhabiting the same habitat Groups of chimps inhabiting the same habitat exhibit variants in social behavior (e.g. in exhibit variants in social behavior (e.g. in grooming). grooming).

Yet cumulative cultural evolution is rare in Yet cumulative cultural evolution is rare in nature. Only humans seem to have it. nature. Only humans seem to have it.

E.g.: complex artifacts are not invented by a E.g.: complex artifacts are not invented by a individuals at a given time; they evolve over individuals at a given time; they evolve over many generations.many generations.

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ImitationImitation. .

It leads to It leads to cumulativecumulative evolution of behavior evolution of behavior that no single individual could invent by that no single individual could invent by herself. herself.

Children, unlike apes, imitate faithfully. The Children, unlike apes, imitate faithfully. The latter don’t pay close attention to details.latter don’t pay close attention to details.

Cumulative cultural evolution is rare and Cumulative cultural evolution is rare and possibly absent in non-humans species.possibly absent in non-humans species.

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Our closed relatives, the chimpanzees, rely Our closed relatives, the chimpanzees, rely on different modes of social learning than on different modes of social learning than humans.humans.

Copying Copying vsvs.. learninglearning

Copiers don’t pay the cost of learning. As Copiers don’t pay the cost of learning. As such copying doesn’t have any benefit on such copying doesn’t have any benefit on survival or reproduction. survival or reproduction.

Copiers may acquire the wrong behavior for Copiers may acquire the wrong behavior for their environment. their environment.

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Information scroungers Information scroungers vsvs. information . information producersproducers

Information producers bear a cost to learn. Information producers bear a cost to learn.

When scroungers are rare and producers When scroungers are rare and producers common, almost all scroungers will imitate a common, almost all scroungers will imitate a producer. producer.

Most scroungers will obtain the same benefits Most scroungers will obtain the same benefits of good information as producers but will not of good information as producers but will not bear the cost of production. bear the cost of production.

However, when scroungers are common they However, when scroungers are common they likely imitate one another. likely imitate one another.

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If the environment changes any scroungers If the environment changes any scroungers that imitate scroungers will get caught out that imitate scroungers will get caught out with bad information, while producers will with bad information, while producers will adapt. adapt.

The system equilibrates when the cost of The system equilibrates when the cost of production by producers just equals the cost production by producers just equals the cost of being wrong to scroungers when of being wrong to scroungers when environments change.environments change.

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Culture is adaptive when it makes individual Culture is adaptive when it makes individual learning more effective. learning more effective.

Social/cultural learning improves the average Social/cultural learning improves the average fitness of a population only if it increases the fitness of a population only if it increases the fitness of individual learning who produce fitness of individual learning who produce information, not just those who imitate. information, not just those who imitate.

Increasing the frequency of imitators must Increasing the frequency of imitators must make information production cheaper or make information production cheaper or more accurate.more accurate.

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Imitation allows cumulative improvement. Imitation allows cumulative improvement.

Imitators can acquire their parent’s behavior Imitators can acquire their parent’s behavior after it has been improved by learning. after it has been improved by learning.

Hence imitators can start their search closer Hence imitators can start their search closer to the best prevailing design than purely to the best prevailing design than purely individual learning. individual learning.

They when transmit the improvement to They when transmit the improvement to future generations …future generations …

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Selection favors a heavy reliance on imitation Selection favors a heavy reliance on imitation whenever individual learning is error prone or whenever individual learning is error prone or costly, and environments are neither too costly, and environments are neither too variable nor too stable. variable nor too stable.

In such cases natural selection can favor In such cases natural selection can favor individuals who pay almost no attention to individuals who pay almost no attention to their own experience and are “bound to their own experience and are “bound to customs”.customs”.

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When in doubt about what to do stop trying When in doubt about what to do stop trying and copy your mother: “When in Rome do as and copy your mother: “When in Rome do as Romans do”. Romans do”.

I.e. imitating the most common behavior is I.e. imitating the most common behavior is better than imitating at random since it is better than imitating at random since it is less likely to acquire inappropriate behavior. less likely to acquire inappropriate behavior.

If this conformist tendency is genetically or If this conformist tendency is genetically or culturally heritable, it will be favored by culturally heritable, it will be favored by natural selection.natural selection.

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Imitate the successfulImitate the successful. .

Determining Determining whowho succeed is much easier tan succeed is much easier tan determining determining howhow to succeed. to succeed.

This way one has a chance to acquire the This way one has a chance to acquire the behavior causing success even if one has no behavior causing success even if one has no clue about which particular features cause clue about which particular features cause success. success.

Prestige bias, though, can lead to an unstable, Prestige bias, though, can lead to an unstable, runaway process like the one who gives rise to runaway process like the one who gives rise to exaggerate characters (e.g. peacock tail).exaggerate characters (e.g. peacock tail).

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Psychological experiments suggest that Psychological experiments suggest that we’re prone to imitate the successful.we’re prone to imitate the successful.

E.g.: people tend to imitate prestigious E.g.: people tend to imitate prestigious people even in domains not obviously related people even in domains not obviously related to their success; (cf. advertising). to their success; (cf. advertising).

E.g.: poor and less educated people imitate E.g.: poor and less educated people imitate people of high local status, not socially people of high local status, not socially distant elites whose life situation is far from distant elites whose life situation is far from potential adopters.potential adopters.

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How the capacities for culture possibly How the capacities for culture possibly evolve?evolve?

Data: Data:

Chimps are overwhelmingly dependent on Chimps are overwhelmingly dependent on collected food, while human foragers get almost collected food, while human foragers get almost all their calories from extracted or hunted all their calories from extracted or hunted resources.resources.

Humans live in a wider range of environments Humans live in a wider range of environments than other primates, because culture allows the than other primates, because culture allows the relatively rapid accumulation of better strategies relatively rapid accumulation of better strategies for the exploitation of local environment.for the exploitation of local environment.

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Socio/cultural learning may be an Socio/cultural learning may be an adaptation to Pleistocene (i.e. around adaptation to Pleistocene (i.e. around 110 thousand years ago until 12 110 thousand years ago until 12 thousand years ago) climate thousand years ago) climate fluctuations.fluctuations.

Cumulative cultural adaptation is most Cumulative cultural adaptation is most advantageous when there are big differences advantageous when there are big differences between environments in time/space and between environments in time/space and when variation arises slowly enough to make when variation arises slowly enough to make transmission and accumulation by social transmission and accumulation by social learning useful. learning useful.

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If environments change too rapidly, selection If environments change too rapidly, selection will favor individual learning but no will favor individual learning but no transmission (why learn something useless to transmission (why learn something useless to cope with my environment?). cope with my environment?).

On the other hand, if environments change too On the other hand, if environments change too slowly then ordinary organic evolution can slowly then ordinary organic evolution can track the fluctuations more faithfully and at track the fluctuations more faithfully and at less cost than a system of social learning.less cost than a system of social learning.

A good how-possibly answer is that social A good how-possibly answer is that social learning is an adaptation to increased climate learning is an adaptation to increased climate variation during the last half of the Pleistocene. variation during the last half of the Pleistocene. This helps increased behavior adaptability.This helps increased behavior adaptability.

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The Pleistocene climate deteriorations is The Pleistocene climate deteriorations is correlated with increase in brain size in many correlated with increase in brain size in many mammalian lineages beside our own. All mammalian lineages beside our own. All other thing being equal selection would favor other thing being equal selection would favor small brains for brains are costly (human small brains for brains are costly (human brain: 16% of basal metabolism, average brain: 16% of basal metabolism, average mammal 3%).mammal 3%).

Other brain costs: difficulties at birth; long Other brain costs: difficulties at birth; long

learning period; greater vulnerability to head learning period; greater vulnerability to head trauma, … If brains got bigger it must have trauma, … If brains got bigger it must have been for some good purposes.been for some good purposes.

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If complex culture is a highly If complex culture is a highly advantageous means of adapting to advantageous means of adapting to Pleistocene, why it is so rare?Pleistocene, why it is so rare?

Only fairy sizable populations can sustain Only fairy sizable populations can sustain complex, culturally evolved artifacts and complex, culturally evolved artifacts and behaviors.behaviors.

E.g.: the complexity of tool kit began to E.g.: the complexity of tool kit began to deteriorate when Tasmania got disconnected deteriorate when Tasmania got disconnected to the mainland. to the mainland.

Yet the Tasmania population was not tiny. Yet the Tasmania population was not tiny. When Europeans arrived it numbered at When Europeans arrived it numbered at around 4 thousands). Surprisingly large around 4 thousands). Surprisingly large population is required or the sustainability of population is required or the sustainability of tools consisting of many hundreds complex tools consisting of many hundreds complex items. (cf.: division of linguistic labor).items. (cf.: division of linguistic labor).

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Many preadaptations must have been in Many preadaptations must have been in place for culture to develop and evolve. Like place for culture to develop and evolve. Like winning the lottery …winning the lottery …

Upright posture and hands did not by Upright posture and hands did not by themselves set of a rush to complex culture themselves set of a rush to complex culture (the brain of first hominid, 4 millions years (the brain of first hominid, 4 millions years ago, is not bigger than ape’s one.ago, is not bigger than ape’s one.

The tools tradition was not transmitted by The tools tradition was not transmitted by imitation, but rather maintained by other imitation, but rather maintained by other learning mechanisms similar to the one of learning mechanisms similar to the one of present apes.present apes.

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Home erectus (1 million to 100,000 yeas ago) Home erectus (1 million to 100,000 yeas ago) have larger brain and bodies than the bipedal have larger brain and bodies than the bipedal apes. apes.

Their difference between the size of males and Their difference between the size of males and female was more or less like the difference female was more or less like the difference among contemporary humans.among contemporary humans.

The skills of manufacturing their tools must The skills of manufacturing their tools must have been culturally transmitted in the same have been culturally transmitted in the same way that stone tools traditions are transmitted way that stone tools traditions are transmitted among living foragers.among living foragers.

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Human languageHuman language..

Crucial but paleontologists have no idea when it Crucial but paleontologists have no idea when it evolved. evolved.

The anatomy of vocal tracts suggests that even The anatomy of vocal tracts suggests that even Neanderthals may have had very limited speech. Neanderthals may have had very limited speech.

Some argue that complex behaviors can be Some argue that complex behaviors can be acquired by mimicry in the absence of language. acquired by mimicry in the absence of language.

People may have been mute until contemporary People may have been mute until contemporary recent times.recent times.

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Social CausalitySocial Causality

The presence of meaning is essential to The presence of meaning is essential to social causality. social causality.

E.g.: we wouldn’t vote and cause distant E.g.: we wouldn’t vote and cause distant future events without meaning.future events without meaning.

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GoalsGoals

Most behavior is goal-directed. Most behavior is goal-directed.

Goals depends on meaning insofar as one Goals depends on meaning insofar as one envisages future events. envisages future events.

A chimp can perform the same behavior as A chimp can perform the same behavior as us (e.g. wash dishes) but it doesn’t really us (e.g. wash dishes) but it doesn’t really washes the dishes: it’s goal is not to get the washes the dishes: it’s goal is not to get the dishes clean; it merely imitate the dishes clean; it merely imitate the experimenter.experimenter.

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Goals pursuit depends on being able to think Goals pursuit depends on being able to think about a future state.about a future state.

Evolution takes something that animals can Evolution takes something that animals can do on a small scale and gives humans the do on a small scale and gives humans the ability to do it on a grand scale.ability to do it on a grand scale.

We can do so because we’re aided by We can do so because we’re aided by language and the other tools of culture.language and the other tools of culture.

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Goal PursuitGoal Pursuit

It involves a shift between two different It involves a shift between two different mental states:mental states:

(i) (i) deliberativedeliberative stagestage (the person reflects (the person reflects on on whether to pursue a particular goal); whether to pursue a particular goal);

(ii) (ii) implemental stateimplemental state (the person (the person attempts attempts implementing the goal in implementing the goal in narrowing her narrowing her attention to the goal).attention to the goal).

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The transition from deliberative to The transition from deliberative to implemental has a implemental has a if-then structureif-then structure (e.g.: if I (e.g.: if I can do x, then I’ll do y).can do x, then I’ll do y).

Consciousness and BehaviorConsciousness and Behavior

The gap between conscious and behavior The gap between conscious and behavior (which happens all the time) is bridged by the (which happens all the time) is bridged by the fact that consciousness may not have to fact that consciousness may not have to initiate behavior. initiate behavior.

It merely intervenes to change its course.It merely intervenes to change its course.

Only cultural animals can change behavior Only cultural animals can change behavior based on ideas (this rests on meaning).based on ideas (this rests on meaning).

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Free WillFree Will

Evolution is slow, while cultural changes are fast. Evolution is slow, while cultural changes are fast.

Hence, instead of programming us for how to Hence, instead of programming us for how to respond to every situation, nature had to give us respond to every situation, nature had to give us the freedom to program and re-program the freedom to program and re-program ourselves. ourselves.

Nature has to give us free will.Nature has to give us free will.

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Yet free will is rejected by many people as Yet free will is rejected by many people as “bad science”. “bad science”.

The rejection of free will comes partly from The rejection of free will comes partly from cultivating a restrictive definition.cultivating a restrictive definition.

I.e. as the choice one can make I.e. as the choice one can make independently of any external factorindependently of any external factor..

3838

But, nature gave us what would be beneficial But, nature gave us what would be beneficial and adaptive. and adaptive.

And what free the animal from the slavery to And what free the animal from the slavery to stimulus and responses would be a capacity stimulus and responses would be a capacity to use meaningful thoughts and reasoning to to use meaningful thoughts and reasoning to act in a beneficial way. act in a beneficial way.

Rationality and freedom are linkedRationality and freedom are linked (Searle).(Searle).

3939

Nature designed us to override the automatic Nature designed us to override the automatic responses we inherited from the animal. responses we inherited from the animal.

This is crucial for living in culture.This is crucial for living in culture.

4040

DeterminismDeterminism

Df. everything that happens is the result of Df. everything that happens is the result of some cause(s) that preceded in time.some cause(s) that preceded in time.

Many cognitive scientists believe that the Many cognitive scientists believe that the laws of physical causality are sufficient to laws of physical causality are sufficient to explain all behavior.explain all behavior.

This can be an extreme position holding that This can be an extreme position holding that even social causality is an illusion.even social causality is an illusion.

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The scientific enterprise rests on the view that The scientific enterprise rests on the view that causal principles exist to be found (people are causal principles exist to be found (people are product of their environment: thus changes in product of their environment: thus changes in the environment make a change in the the environment make a change in the individuals).individuals).

But actual finding in psychology are But actual finding in psychology are probabilisticprobabilistic, not deterministic., not deterministic.

The majority of psychology research findings The majority of psychology research findings merely signify slight changes in the odd of any merely signify slight changes in the odd of any particular response.particular response.

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Criticism of free willCriticism of free will

To define freedom independently of any To define freedom independently of any identifiable influence is an absurd, impossible identifiable influence is an absurd, impossible requirement.requirement.

Morality is a social notion and exist socially, not Morality is a social notion and exist socially, not physically. physically.

Thus a decision made on moral judgments Thus a decision made on moral judgments cannot be reduced to purely physical causation. cannot be reduced to purely physical causation.

The brain must process the moral judgments, The brain must process the moral judgments, but the latter don’t reduce to molecule firing.but the latter don’t reduce to molecule firing.

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If Kant is right in holding that causality is one of If Kant is right in holding that causality is one of the basic, innate, category of human the basic, innate, category of human understanding, then human minds (and understanding, then human minds (and psychological scientists) can only understand psychological scientists) can only understand events as being caused.events as being caused.

Thus theorists cannot explain how free will can Thus theorists cannot explain how free will can work.work.

We cannot construe a theory without invoking We cannot construe a theory without invoking causality. causality.

This, though, doesn’t mean that freedom This, though, doesn’t mean that freedom doesn’t exist. It merely means that our doesn’t exist. It merely means that our explanation of the world doesn’t match the explanation of the world doesn’t match the world precisely.world precisely.

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Free will and the real worldFree will and the real world

Outside psychology people believe in free will. Outside psychology people believe in free will. The whole legal system rests on it (no free will The whole legal system rests on it (no free will = no responsibility).= no responsibility).

Addicts prove the existence of free will: an Addicts prove the existence of free will: an addict knows that there is an important addict knows that there is an important difference between the driven by external difference between the driven by external factors and in relation to one own unrestraint factors and in relation to one own unrestraint craving. There is thus a difference between two craving. There is thus a difference between two kind of actions: one of them is more free than kind of actions: one of them is more free than the other.the other.

Moral: free will is a useful and empirically Moral: free will is a useful and empirically testable idea.testable idea.

4545

Occasionally the conscious mind can Occasionally the conscious mind can override some responses and change override some responses and change the programming of the automatic the programming of the automatic systemsystem..

This partial freeing may be one of the This partial freeing may be one of the important functions of consciousness. important functions of consciousness.

This is highly adaptive and would increase This is highly adaptive and would increase the range of flexibility of human behavior.the range of flexibility of human behavior.

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Impulses & RestraintsImpulses & Restraints

The brain has two systems for two different The brain has two systems for two different task: task:

(i)(i) the behavior activation system and the behavior activation system and

(ii)(ii) the behavior inhibition system. (e.g. the behavior inhibition system. (e.g. alcohol alcohol seems to operate on the second).seems to operate on the second).

Experiments on rats’ brain also prove they Experiments on rats’ brain also prove they have the two systems. Thus nature separated have the two systems. Thus nature separated activation from inhibition long before humans activation from inhibition long before humans emerged.emerged.

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If impulses (starting) and restraints If impulses (starting) and restraints (stopping) depends on different systems, (stopping) depends on different systems, then in principle factors can affect the one then in principle factors can affect the one without affecting the other.without affecting the other.

In many cases, though, the two systems are In many cases, though, the two systems are competing. competing.

E.g.: alcohol inhibits the inhibitors but does E.g.: alcohol inhibits the inhibitors but does not activate new impulses. It merely weakens not activate new impulses. It merely weakens the restraints so the desires already present the restraints so the desires already present in the psyche have a better chance to turn in the psyche have a better chance to turn into action; into action; vino veritasvino veritas..

4848

Culture and impulses/restraintsCulture and impulses/restraints

Culture generally is more successful at shaping Culture generally is more successful at shaping behavior by means of restrain than impulses. behavior by means of restrain than impulses.

To make people do something culture must To make people do something culture must build on pre-existing natural motivations. build on pre-existing natural motivations.

E.g.: culture cannot prevent someone to have E.g.: culture cannot prevent someone to have sexual desires toward someone different from sexual desires toward someone different from her partner, but it can prevent one to act. her partner, but it can prevent one to act. Culture shapes the inner restraints.Culture shapes the inner restraints.

E.g.: emotions; culture teaches people to E.g.: emotions; culture teaches people to conceal/restrain their emotions.conceal/restrain their emotions.

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The main cultural interventions are toward The main cultural interventions are toward morality. morality.

Most of the moral rules tells us what NOT to Most of the moral rules tells us what NOT to do, they don’t tell us what to do.do, they don’t tell us what to do.

Nature Nature vsvs. culture. culture: Nature favors GO while : Nature favors GO while culture promotes STOP.culture promotes STOP.

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Self-controlSelf-control

The restraint of impulses is part of the largest The restraint of impulses is part of the largest project of self-control.project of self-control.

This is crucial to cultural animals. Humans This is crucial to cultural animals. Humans can restrain themselves much more can restrain themselves much more extensively than other animals.extensively than other animals.

Self-control can alter inner states/ responses/ Self-control can alter inner states/ responses/ motivations. It can override responses motivations. It can override responses already in progress. Not many animal can do already in progress. Not many animal can do it.it.

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One of the most important form of self-control One of the most important form of self-control (which evolved because it was so adaptive and (which evolved because it was so adaptive and beneficial) is the ability to delay gratification, beneficial) is the ability to delay gratification, i.e. the ability to renounce short-term gains in i.e. the ability to renounce short-term gains in order to pursue long-term benefits. order to pursue long-term benefits.

This goes with our capacity to transcend the This goes with our capacity to transcend the immediate present.immediate present.

Yet the human ability to pursue delayed Yet the human ability to pursue delayed gratification is relatively recent in evolutionary gratification is relatively recent in evolutionary perspective and thus somewhat fragile.perspective and thus somewhat fragile.

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Self-control ranks along intelligence among Self-control ranks along intelligence among the best all-purpose psychological capacities. the best all-purpose psychological capacities.

Failure of self-control is centrally involved in Failure of self-control is centrally involved in most personal and social problems.most personal and social problems.

E.g. substances abuse, alcoholism, ….E.g. substances abuse, alcoholism, ….

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Three main ingredients in self control (a Three main ingredients in self control (a break down in one can cause self-control to break down in one can cause self-control to fail):fail):

1. 1. standardsstandards: rules, goals, ideals, …: rules, goals, ideals, …guideline for guideline for proper action.proper action.

2. 2. monitoringmonitoring: watching yourself and : watching yourself and keeping keeping track of how your behavior track of how your behavior matches up with matches up with your goals and standards your goals and standards (like a room (like a room thermostat).thermostat).

3. 3. willpowerwillpower : it operates like a muscle. : it operates like a muscle. It can It can be strengthen by exercise be strengthen by exercise (building character, (building character, self-discipline).self-discipline).