ABSTRACT
The purpose of self-control is to protect long-term interests from the appeal of short-term desires. Delay discounting is a choice situation for studying self-control. Measures of self-control often include indices of attentional regulation and the ability to delay gratification in situations of intense temptation, or stress. Self-control tools have practical applications that people can use to improve various aspects of their lives. A huge body of research has linked good self-control to a broad range of desirable outcomes, including better mental health, coping skills, healthier interpersonal relationships, superior academic performance, as well as less susceptibility to eating disorders and addiction. Self-control is something that we want for ourselves and admire in others without qualification because it leads to a good life. The modern life places far more pressure on the ability to exercise self-control in the face of daily temptations. Self-control depends on several factors includes commitment to goals, motivation, self-efficacy, monitoring of the self and its behaviors, and willpower.
