Self-control - what is it in psychology, definition, tasks

Self-control is a person's ability to regulate and control their emotions, thoughts and behavior. The name is derived from the English word Self-control, which can be literally translated as “self-control” or “I control myself.” Human self-control is associated with awareness and will. Let us examine in more detail what self-control is in psychology, why it is necessary, what it consists of, and what its significance is.

What is self-control

Let's define the concept. Self-control is a person’s ability to manage their state and behavior in crisis, conflict and contradictory situations. What does the concept of self-control include? It is closely related to motivation, goal setting, self-esteem, self-discipline, and responsibility. Let’s take a closer look at why self-control is needed.

What is it for?

What is the meaning of self-control? It helps in self-development, achieving goals, getting rid of bad habits and forming new habits. With the help of self-control, a person remains committed to his beliefs and values in stressful situations. Self-control also helps in the fight and prevention of psychological problems. Self-control helps you more easily endure difficulties, physical, psychological and intellectual stress.

Let us briefly describe the importance of self-control for human health and performance:

self-control turns on and helps to move forward where motivation weakens or completely disappears;
with its help we overcome our laziness, temptations from the outside world and do what needs to be done, even if it is difficult and unpleasant.

In simple terms, self-control helps you find the answer to the question: “Should I do what I want right now or do what will be better and healthier for me in the long run?”

Interesting! In sports, self-control of the body and spirit is important for athletes.

Peculiarities

To better understand the features of self-control, let us turn to several psychological phenomena:

Yerkes-Dodson Law. According to this theory, a low or medium level of motivation is more important to achieve sustainable and long-term results. A high level helps achieve short-term results and small goals.
Need-information theory of emotions. To put it briefly and simply, its essence is this: the more we want something and the longer we go towards it, the higher the psychological and emotional stress. A person finds himself in a state of stress, and this negatively affects his activity. He loses the ability to think rationally and slowly but surely move towards the goal. And also, with a strong desire to satisfy some need, any failure is perceived much more painfully. That is, with high motivation, the risk of quitting is greater than with low motivation, but a high level of self-discipline and self-control.

Both phenomena are interconnected and are the basis of self-control.

Three main features

We can also say that people with developed self-control are characterized by three key features:

Self-preservation - they have a healthy attitude towards everything that happens and around them, they focus on what they need for a quality life, and not on what they want, sometimes in spite of. They use whatever they need to enrich their lives, but do not overdo it or try to exploit others in any way.
Self-affirmation - they know their worth and can freely say what they think, but in a way that allows others to speak too. They are firm but gentle with others and do not put themselves or others down.
Self-actualization - the path to self-actualization is closely related to resilience. People with self-control are able to understand that it is important to continue doing a difficult task if you plan to improve at it.

Types of self-control

Let's look at what forms and types of self-control there are according to different classifications from psychology:

Direct and indirect self-control. In the first case, a person turns only to his senses. In the second - to auxiliary external means.
Self-control before an action, during its implementation and self-control of subsequent actions. That is, a person first predicts what will change if he does the right thing (as he thinks), then controls the execution of the intended action and then compares the expectation and reality.
Ascertaining and correcting. In the first case, a person uses self-control to identify current problems, in the second, he gets rid of them or prevents the occurrence of some complications.

In addition, psychology distinguishes between external and internal self-control. The second is connected with the inner world of a person, and the first with the external world. That is, a person struggles with his personal impulses or with negative environmental factors.

Objective indicators

The first group of signs of self-observation is objective in nature. They provide a set of biometric data that determines the overall impact of workload on human health.

The objective group of signs of self-control provides several criteria. These should include the following:

The athlete himself decides which method of determining the state of the body to choose. For greater efficiency, all criteria should be taken into account.

You will also need to take into account physical development, which depends on a person’s height and weight. It is necessary to establish an indicator that will be called the weight index. The strength of the physique also matters. For example, if you subtract weight and chest circumference from height, you will get an indicator characterizing your physique (up to 10 - strong, from 10 to 20 - good, from 21 to 25 - average, over 25 - weak).

Methods

Let's look at the best techniques for developing self-control:

Self-restraints. Dopamine fasting is gaining popularity abroad (author – Cameron Sepa, professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of California). The essence of the “diet” is this: for some time (an hour, a day, a week - progressively) a person refuses surrogates for happiness. What does this mean? Everything that gives a quick surge of joy hormones and instant satisfaction: sweets, alcohol, shopping, sex, extreme sports, communication on social networks, computer games, etc. First of all, you need to give up what is most attractive to you. What is allowed? Walk and communicate with loved ones, read paper books, take care of the house, devote time to hobbies. In general, you need to concentrate on your inner world and on your family and friends. The purpose of fasting is to improve mental health. This includes increasing awareness, getting rid of addictions and their prevention, increasing stress resistance, and returning to true values.
Recognition of emotions. Learn to track what emotions and in what situations you experience. Which of them are primary and which are secondary. Primary emotions: joy, fear, anger, sadness, disgust, surprise. Everything else that we experience is different combinations of primary emotions.
Tracking and controlling emotions. Start keeping a diary in which you will record the things that drive you crazy. Describe in detail problem situations, your emotions and thoughts, feelings, states, desires. Soon you will identify a group of your stress factors. After that, decide what you can exclude from your life and what you need to continue to interact with on a different plan. Develop a new, productive strategy. Keeping a diary is a form of personal self-control.
Honing a skill. Play a video on YouTube that evokes any strong emotion in you. Restrain yourself. Repeat this exercise several times daily.

If you feel like your emotions are getting the better of you, try to distract yourself. Use the basics: get out the door, go for a run or walk, do a few push-ups, remember and imagine something pleasant.

In what types of self-control is possible? To track progress in self-control, use objective and subjective methods. The first includes what you can measure and what other people see. For example, how much work do you do in a certain amount of time? Subjective methods are personal feelings. For example, appetite, general well-being, emotional background.

Similarly, in self-control you can focus on external and internal signs. For example, if we are talking about fighting bad habits, then external signs include the color and condition of the skin. And to the internal ones - general well-being.

Note! You can develop and improve self-control at any age.

Meaning in society

The role of self-control in society is difficult to overestimate - it is this human trait that is the driving force in a person’s struggle for survival. All examples of self-control are the basis for the formation of a successful society. A rational individual is distinguished by the ability to control his emotions and behavior. Methods of self-control are aimed at regulating norms of behavior and suppressing. In order to avoid chaos and collapse, humanity must follow certain rules and be guided by objective indicators of self-control.

Important! The science of social science identifies the main law operating in society - personal desires and rights lose power when the rights and needs of another person appear. If you refuse to follow this rule, the number of cases of harm in society will sharply increase; in some cases, if you lose self-control, administrative and criminal liability is possible.

Rules

In order for self-control to manifest itself in all its glory and help you improve your life, you need to organize and train it according to the following rules (development of self-control):

Finding meaning and purpose. Why do many people fail to quit smoking or drinking (we are not talking about advanced cases of chemical dependency)? Because there is a lack of awareness. Yes, everyone says that this is bad, but there are no specifics. But if a person admits the fact that, due to a bad habit, his skin condition has worsened, the functioning of some systems has been disrupted, his performance has decreased, and other negative changes have occurred, then it will be easier to quit. If we add to this the prospects of what will happen after giving up a bad habit, then the process will become even more conscious. In this case, the meaning and goal can be formulated, for example, like this: “I will give up alcohol and cigarettes for a month, I will analyze my condition every day (we select specific criteria for measurements) and then compare before and after.” A month is enough to cleanse and initially restore the body, which means that a person will see and feel improvements and decide to extend his experiment for a month, then another month, then another, etc. That is, he will stop drinking and smoking.
We break large tasks into subtasks, that is, we draw up a step-by-step plan. Agree, is it easier to lose a kilogram every week than to think about losing 24 kg in six months? With such a breakdown, you yourself will not notice how you reach your goal.
Let's take the first step. This is the most difficult thing, since you have to fight fears, doubts, laziness, procrastination and other bad things. And once you have started, then, as they say, there is no turning back. By the way, the same rule is true for the “point of no return,” or the equator of your path. Set intermediate goals and analyze the work done.
Let's stop multitasking. Yes, it works for small tasks. For example, you can scan or print something and at the same time build a plan for further work in your head. Or you can wash the dishes and come up with an introduction to the article. But if we are talking about more complex and global tasks, then we need to fully concentrate on one thing. Then you will be able to enter a state of flow and complete the task as quickly and efficiently as possible. We will return to this in the “My Experience” section.
We train willpower. Start with small tasks. For example, train yourself to walk one or more stops to or from work, do daily morning exercises, use stairs instead of elevators and escalators, etc.
Changing the environment. Self-control helps us restrain ourselves, endure, force ourselves to do something. But at the same time, it is important to minimize the level of stress and negativity in your life. For example, if in the presence of a certain person you often lose your balance because he is a walking provocation, then it makes sense to exclude this person from your life. This is not weakness or running away, this is healthy self-help.
We normalize the work and rest schedule. An adult needs to sleep at least 8 hours (individual norm may deviate by 1-2 hours up or down). It is also important to take breaks at work, set aside an hour for lunch and afternoon rest, arrange days off, and alternate physical and intellectual activity. Remember that self-control requires great volitional efforts, that is, energy expenditure. You need to recover so as not to break. And full recovery is only possible in a dream.
Forming habits. The more often you force yourself to do something, the more firmly that pattern becomes ingrained in your brain. Gradually it becomes automatic and becomes a habit. For example, if for several months you have been training at the same time and on the same days, then your body begins to “ask” for the usual load. You no longer force yourself or tune in, but simply go and do it.

Interesting! If you don’t know where to start, then complete the simplest or most difficult task. This will help you get ready for work and move forward with confidence.

Do a 7 minute workout

Most people set a goal to start doing sports or fitness from the new year, from the first of any month, or at least from Monday. Don't repeat the mistakes of others and start practicing a little today.

The 7-minute workout requires no sportswear, no equipment, no trips to the gym or stadium. You won’t be able to find an excuse for yourself other than “I don’t want to,” and it won’t help calm your conscience.

Here you can read the rules of this simple but intense workout. You will probably have doubts whether it is worth doing this, will 7 minutes be of any use? Maybe then I shouldn’t study at all? It's your mind trying to stay in your comfort zone, ignore that little voice and start training.

Reasons for importance

Let us analyze the reasons for the importance of developing self-control from the point of view of society as a single organism and the role of self-control in everyday life for each person:

Developed self-control in individuals reduces the level of crime in society and creates a healthy psychological climate. Self-control helps citizens observe rules and order in public places, for example, in transport. In a work team, a high level of self-control by each employee increases overall productivity and performance.
In everyday life, self-control gives a person freedom. Yes, it seems that self-control is all about prohibitions and restrictions. But in fact, self-control helps a person become the master of his own life, get out of the slavery of bad habits, rash decisions, emotional outbursts and other things. Self-control increases a person’s confidence, promotes the development of self-esteem and harmonizes the state.

Interesting! Synonyms for the word self-control: restraint, self-control.

Full definition of the term

Internal self-control is the ability to remain calm in any situation and manage one’s own emotions. This is the most important personality trait necessary to achieve goals and success in life.

An example of self-control in educational activities is when there is an exam or final test, it is necessary to study the material, and in this situation, the ability to refuse friends and not go for a walk is self-education.

Important! Self-control, as a human quality, has several synonyms - restraint, self-control. This is the most important human trait, which is valued in modern society, but not available to everyone.

In psychology, moral self-control of an individual is a certain set of internal processes through which a person controls himself and his emotions. Self-control skills make it easier to experience any difficulties and cope with emotional and physical stress.

Self-monitoring functions

In psychology, it is customary to distinguish two functions of self-control:

Recording and analyzing the action being performed, assessing behavior.
Correction and correction of behavior and activities.

Without correction, self-control is considered incomplete. Although they say that recognizing the problem is half the solution, you need to develop an action plan to combat the problem and implement it. Only then can we talk about formed and implemented self-control. Thus, self-observation and self-control are closely related.

Note! The principles of self-control include daily observation and self-observation, assessment and self-assessment of physical and psychological health, performance and other elements, as well as behavior correction in order to improve the quality of life.

Bibliography:

Gotovtsev P.I., Dubrovsky V.I. Self-control during physical education and sports. M.: Physical culture and sport, 1984.
Sports medicine. General pathology, medical supervision with the basics of private pathology: a textbook for students of physical education institutes / Ed. A.G. Dembo. M.: Physical culture and sport, 1975.
A.G. Medical control in sports, p. 232, M., 1988; Sports medicine, ed. .: Dembo V.L. Karpman, p. 166, M., 1980.
Encyclopedia of Human Development, wikigrowth.ru, 2011-20.
2009-2020 - PSYCHOLOGIST - Practical Encyclopedia.

Advantages and disadvantages

We've already talked about why to develop self-control, and you probably already understand the benefits of this skill. Let's list them briefly:

due to awareness, the efficiency of decision making increases;
Due to the ability to patiently work with long-term goals and delayed results, the chance of success in any business increases;
By getting rid of bad habits and impulsive behavior, the quality of life improves.

Are there any downsides to self-control? You might be surprised, but yes. Those people who know how to tightly control themselves may seem callous to others. When you begin to develop self-control, get rid of bad habits and negative behavior, and give preference to long-term results rather than immediate pleasures, most of your usual social circle will be eliminated. At first you will encounter misunderstanding, then you will feel loneliness, but soon you will gather around you those who are interested in both their development and the development of their friends.

Important! In pursuit of developing a steely will and self-control, it is important not to go to the other extreme - a ban on joy, mistakes and spontaneity. There should still be an element of surprise and momentary joy in our lives. Sometimes you need to give free rein to your emotions so as not to develop neurosis.

Important aspects

Without certain components and aspects, self-control cannot exist. Its formation and proper functioning is determined by:

Constant control of the individual over his own behavior.
A person’s ability to control himself in conflict.
Knowledge of the individual about certain moral criteria of society, which are “examples to follow.”
The individual’s ability to self-criticize and encourage, on the way to changing behavioral characteristics.
A person’s ability to take responsibility for changes that bring positive consequences to him. That is, the individual must set himself up for the successful completion of the change process.

How to exercise self-control

How we carry out self-control, build a system and correction plan:

Recognize that self-control is weakening (you are about to succumb to some temptation or quit what you started). Don’t go into self-flagellation, get rid of the feeling of guilt. Only a strong person can admit weakness. We all get tired, our resources are not unlimited.
Think about how to minimize risks. For example, if you are worried that you will buy something harmful at the store, then order food at home, choosing only the right products. And before that, eat so that you are not tempted to buy a lot of “junk”. If you are struggling with your shopaholism, then after adding items to your cart, give yourself time to think. Better yet, put off shopping until another day. In general, you need to understand in what situations and under what conditions you return to a bad habit, and then change the environment around you.
Don't retreat from awareness. For example, if you struggle with overeating, then avoid talking at the table or watching TV. Don’t be distracted from the meal process itself -
then you won’t “accidentally” eat more.
Include negative thinking. You were probably surprised, because on every corner they advise the opposite. Yes, in general in life you need to strive for positive thinking, but when fighting temptation, turn to negativity. What does it mean? Focus on the dangers of a bad habit, highlight the shortcomings of something or someone, visualize the consequences of destructive behavior, etc.
Find the real problem and fight it. For example, some people drink out of boredom or trying to disguise complexes and self-doubt. Every bad habit has a hidden benefit. You need to identify it and learn to get the same result in a different, healthy way.
Mark your successes on paper, praise and support yourself. It is especially important to do this at the moment of breakdown, rollback: “Yes, I screamed again and could not calmly resolve the conflict. But this time I didn’t throw objects as before. Next time I’ll definitely be able to hold back my scream.” Learn to enjoy the fact that you are in control of yourself and your life.
Get ready for kickbacks. At the beginning of the journey they happen to all people. Immediately determine what you will do in case of failure, think over a system of punishments.
Switch your attention. If you force yourself not to think about something, you will think about it. Need to do something else. In general, it is useful not just to get rid of some bad habit, but to replace one habit with another.

What allows you to maintain self-control? I recommend keeping a diary in which you track changes. Record your thoughts and experiences. First, they will help you bring all problems to the level of awareness, and then - maintain motivation in the pursuit of the goal. In difficult moments, refer to this diary. And also refer to your hierarchy of motives more often. Remind yourself of the main goal for which you can sacrifice immediate desires.

Control of emotions

In a situation where emotions take over you, you need to reduce the emotional intensity or switch to other emotions. The following techniques can help here:

Distance. Take a walk, go to another room, or visit. Distance perfectly neutralizes negative impulses.
Sport. A few push-ups or pull-ups will reduce the intensity of passions, and to completely put your thoughts in order, do a full workout.
Visualization of pleasant memories. Imagine some positive experience as vividly and with all the details as possible, focus on it.

unsplash.com / @markdaynes

Exercise “Don't cry / Don't laugh”

Find a movie or video that evokes strong emotions in you. Something that inevitably makes you laugh or cry. Play the video and try to curb your feelings this time. Use the self-control techniques described above. For example, think about something else or pause and walk around the room. You can also get a self-monitoring diary and analyze your feelings.

My experience

As an example, I’ll tell you about my experience in dealing with time wasters. I think this is something many copywriters struggle with. When working at home, especially without a specific schedule and plan, every now and then you get distracted by something: reading a letter from a friend on a social network, petting a cat, dusting, finding some information on the Internet, etc. and so on. And everything is important and urgent (actually not). In general, due to frequent interruptions from work, matters are resolved slowly and not very effectively.

I fell into a similar trap until I realized that I needed to create a daily schedule. At least indicate from what time and until what time I work without a break. But this was not enough to achieve maximum efficiency. Over time, I learned to enter a state of flow (remember, in another paragraph of the article we wanted to return to this?).

My first experience of entering a flow state was accidental. I didn’t even know what it was called then. I thought I had some kind of superpower (well, who among us doesn’t want to feel special and unique?). Then I realized that this is one of the psychological phenomena that anyone can find themselves in. Here's my secret to getting into a flow state:

I turn off the sound on my phone, turn off all work chats and other services on the computer, turn off the intercom and remove any other factors that could distract me. If there is someone at home other than me, then please do not distract me. I also set a comfortable temperature in the room: I open the window, turn on the air conditioner or heater (depending on the time of year), choose comfortable clothes that are suitable for the temperature, etc.
I'm assessing my condition. It is important that nothing bothers me physically or psychologically. For example, if I know that something important awaits me in the afternoon, then in the first half of the day it can be very difficult to concentrate on work tasks. If I’m hungry or haven’t had enough sleep, then I won’t be able to enter the flow either. Accordingly, after assessing the condition, I do everything possible to improve it (if it is satisfactory) or maintain it (if it is good).
I choose a task and tune in to it, as if trying it on myself. I recall from my experience or imagine events related to the topic of the article. Sometimes I get inspired by stories on forums. It is extremely important to generate personal interest.
I write the first thing that comes to mind. Perhaps later I will delete this sentence or paragraph altogether, maybe I will insert it at the beginning of the article or at the very end - it doesn’t matter. The main thing is to start. And then everything happens by itself.

What does flow state feel like? You switch off and then switch on. In the process of work, the sense of time and space disappears. It's like you turn into a machine. But quite a reasonable and creative machine. A bunch of thoughts are born in your head that you don’t have time to write, let alone formulate. Something flies out, then flies in again, one thing gives way to another. You say something out loud, something is reflected in your facial expressions. Along with your thoughts, the pictures in your head change. It’s as if you are living here and now everything you write about.

What follows after the article is written and you “turn on”? On the one hand, you feel satisfied and inspired. On the other hand, you feel like a squeezed lemon. Operating in a flow state requires much more energy than operating in a normal operating state. But fatigue can and should also be fought. I give myself a little rest, stretch, use a massage pillow, hide my eyes under a sleep mask, drink coffee, and then return to the article.

All that remains is to correct everything written, enter the remaining keys and complete the registration. All this happens outside the flow and requires great volitional efforts. Here I use the following rule: without being distracted, we do the remaining work, and then with a clear conscience we go about our business. Sometimes I put it off until another day, because after leaving the stream there is almost no energy left.

I like to work in a state of flow, but it’s not always possible to get into it. I have already learned to work with schedules and planning, but sometimes problems still arise with creating suitable conditions for entering the flow.

Subjective signs

The second group of signs of self-observation is subjective. This includes data that is specific to each person.

Fixing the criteria under consideration is an independent process. Accordingly, you should know that the subjective indicators of self-control include the following:

Subjective self-monitoring data also include pain sensations. Muscle tension and discomfort is normal . They should go away the next day. It all depends on the degree of load. If training causes other pain, then you should reconsider the regimen, or maybe consult a doctor.

Thus, self-control, carried out through the determination of subjective and objective signs, is especially important for athletes. It affects both the effectiveness of training and maintaining a healthy state of the body.

Source

Books on the development of will

There are a lot of manuals about self-development. A significant part of them is aimed specifically at motivation in order to overcome laziness, develop useful qualities and, most importantly, self-control:

Kelly McGonigal, Willpower. How to develop and strengthen.”
Brian Tracy, Get Out of Your Comfort Zone. Change your life. 21 methods for increasing personal effectiveness."
Sharon Melnick, "Resilience."
Dan Dubravin, The Psychology of Emotions: Feelings in Control.
Walter Mischel, Developing Willpower.
Heidi Grant Halvorson, The Psychology of Achievement.

Arterial pressure

This indicator is objective. It is no secret that certain fluctuations in blood pressure indicate the rhythm of cardiac activity.

There are various types of self-control during physical exercises, used in sports practice, which allow one to assess the state of the body. Among them are functional tests. So, with independent physical training, it is recommended to do twenty squats in half a minute. After this, the trainee must sit quietly for 3 minutes. A heart rate from 100 to 130 beats/min after physical activity will indicate a low level of load, 130-150 beats/min will indicate average intensity.

Sometimes the pulse with this method of self-control can increase to 150-170 beats per minute. This indicator is typical for the maximum load. The obtained values are an excellent guide for self-control.