ABSTRACT
S elf-control has been an important factor in Western civilization. In his recent economic history, Clark (2007) contended that it played a decisive role in the Industrial Revolution and the economic and cultural ascendancy of Western civilization. Noting that the Industrial Revolution occurred in England rather than other countries with similar governmental and other structures, Clark proposed that the key difference was that in England, the upper classes reproduced far more than the lower ones, and given the limited opportunities in the social structure, this entailed substantial downward mobility. As a result, the lower
CONTENTS Benets of High Self-Control 22 Ego Depletion 24 Motivation and Conservation 25 Exercising Increases Self-Control Strength 26 Glucose 28 Applications of the Strength Model 29
Food and Alcohol 29 Interpersonal Interactions 29
Conclusions 31 References 32
classes gradually lled up with people who had the genetic and environmental benets of the upper classes, including self-control. This created the potential for a working class that could be relied on to be punctual, diligent, and effective at the factory work required for the Industrial Revolution-something Clark notes that many third world countries have been still unable to achieve centuries after the British showed the way.
