Learning lectures: Self-control - Apple Inc

Learning lectures:Self-control

Application of LEARNING Theories: Self-Control

Self-control versus self-realizationSkinner vs. Freud vs. ?

Skinner onthe nature of self-control:

"A man [sic] may spend a great deal of time designing his own life--he may choose the circumstances in which he is to live with great care, and he may manipulate his daily environment on an extensive scale.""Such activity appears to exemplify a high order of self-determination. But it is also behavior, and we account for it in terms of other variables in the environment and history of the individual. It is these variables which provide the ultimate control."

Skinner on how to delay gratification:

"Get thee behind me, Satan"

Freud’s description, vs. recommendationof how to delay gratification

• Description of the strategy commonly used:Imagine gratification (reward) as vividly as possible

How to delay gratification effectively:Secondary Process--"Cool“ Cognition, Reality Principle (Pity Date night, Wed.)Primary Process--"Hot“ Cognition, Pleasure Principle (Hot Date night, i.e., weekend!)

Holistic approaches to self-"control"

• it's all in your perspective... How you view it.

Walter Mischel's delay of gratification series

• basic paradigm: Mischel & Ebbesen (1970): How stimuli affect delay of gratification...or is it the though that counts?– Method

Design of Mischel & Ebbesen (1970):

Results of Mischel & Ebbesen (1970):



Average duration of delay of gratification

(minutes)

Smaller, more immediate reward

ABSENT


PRESENT

Larger, delayed reward ABSENT

Larger, delayed reward PRESENT

11.3 minutes 5.7 minutes

4.9 minutes 1.0 minute



(minutes)


ABSENT


PRESENT







(minutes)


ABSENT


PRESENT







(minutes)


ABSENT


PRESENT







(minutes)


ABSENT


PRESENT







(minutes)


ABSENT


PRESENT







(minutes)


ABSENT


PRESENT







(minutes)


ABSENT


PRESENT







(minutes)


ABSENT


PRESENT





Discussion of Mischel & Ebbesen (1970)

Who was right?(according to the present findings …)Skinner?Freud?

Stay tuned!

Mischel, Ebbesen & Zeiss (1972):

• How cognition affects delay of gratification...it's more complex that you'd think ...





Average duration of

delay of gratification

(minutes)

"Think thoughts

"Think thoughts"

"Think about the [rewards]"

... with rewards present during

delay

... with rewards absent during

delay



Average duration of


(minutes)

"Think happy thoughts

"Think thoughts"



delay


delay



Average duration of


(minutes)


"Think sad thoughts"



delay


delay



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay

Procedure

• Add to Mischel & Ebbesen procedure either:"think happy" instructions"think sad" instructions"think food" instructions

Think Happy Thoughts…

"Oh, while I'm gone you can think of anything that's fun to think of, for as long as you want to, if you want to. Can you tell me something to think about that's fun?" (anything) "Yes. You can also think about singing songs, or think of playing with toys or anything that is fun to think of.“

Think Sad Thoughts…

"Oh, while I'm gone you can think of anything that is sad to think of, for as long as you want to, if you want to. Can you tell me something that is sad to think of?" (anything...) "Yes. You can also think of falling down and getting a bloody knee which hurts a lot, or you can think of crying with no one to help. You can think of anything that makes you unhappy."

Think about Food…

"Oh, while I'm gone you can think of the [marshmallows] for as long as you want to, if you want to. And, while I'm gone you can think of the [marshmallows] for as long as you want to, if you want to. While I'm gone you can think of the [marshmallows] for as long as you want to, if you want to.”

Results of Mischel, Ebbesen, & Zeiss (1972)



Average duration of


(minutes)

"Think thoughts

"Think thoughts"



delay


delay

13.5 5.0 4.4

14.4 (condition not replicated) 0.8


Average duration of


(minutes)


"Think thoughts"



delay


delay

13.5 5.0 4.4



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay

13.5 5.0 4.4



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay

13.5 5.0 4.4



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay

13.5 5.0 4.4



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay

13.5 5.0 4.4



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay

13.5 5.0 4.4



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay

13.5 5.0 4.4



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay

13.5 5.0 4.4



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay

13.5 5.0 4.4



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay

13.5 5.0 4.4



Average duration of


(minutes)





delay


delay

13.5 5.0 4.4


Discussion of Mischel, Ebbesen, and Zeiss (1972)

Now who is right?(according to the present findings …)Skinner?Freud?

Other possible explanationsStill stay tuned!

Mischel & Baker (1975):

• Primary versus secondary processes? Is Freud alive and well in our heads?

Procedure

instructions for different groupsPrimary process induction

In the presence of actual objectsIn the presence of pictures of objects

Secondary process inductionIn the presence of actual objectsIn the presence of pictures of objects

Design for Mischel and Baker (1975)


(minutes)

consummatory ideation instructions

about ...

nonconsumatory ideation instructions

about ...

food reward(e.g., marshmallows)

food item irrelevant to delay

(e.g., pretzels)

Freud's perspective:

5.60minutes

13.51minutes

16.82minutes

4.46minutes

primary process thought!

secondary process thought ...

control delay (no instructions) 8.44 minutes

Advantages of a multi-theory approach to understanding self-control…

What the Holistic approach adds…

END ofLearning lectures:Self-control

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Learning lectures: Self-control - Apple Inc