Psychology Of Self-Regulation

Description:
The ability to regulate and control our behaviors is a key accomplishment of the human species, yet the psychological mechanisms involved in self-regulation remain incompletely understood. This book presents contributions from leading international researchers who survey the most recent developments in this fascinating area. The chapters shed new light on the subtle and often subconscious ways that the people seek to regulate their thoughts, feelings and behaviors in everyday social life. The contributions seek answers to such intriguing questions as: How can we improve our ability to control our actions?How do people make decisions about which goals to pursue? How do we maintain and manage goal-oriented behavior? What happens when we run out of self-regulation resources? Can we match people and the regulatory demands of to specific tasks so as to optimize performance? What role does self-regulation play in sports performance, in maintaining successful relationships, and in managing work situations? The book offers a highly integrated and representative coverage of this important field, and is suitable as a core textbook in advanced courses dealing with social behavior and the applications of psychology to real-life problems.

Review:
'The present volume is an excellent summary of social psychological research, very readable and comprehensive.' -- Rebecca Coleman Curtis and Nina Katzander in PsycCRITIQUES 'In just the last 10 years, there has been an explosion of scientific interest in self-regulation. New theories and exciting discoveries have appeared at an ever-increasing rate. Self-regulation as an area central to motivation science has never been more important to the science of psychology more generally. This is why this book is a 'must read' for all those interested in how and why people's goals, feelings, and motivational concerns translate into the decisions they make and the actions they take. This book brings together a stellar group of scientists and scholars who offer the reader the best new ideas and findings in self-regulation. It is an exciting and inspiring read that is not to be missed.' - E. Tory Higgins, Ph.D., Stanley Schachter Professor of Psychology & Professor of Management, Director, Motivation Science Center, Columbia University 'Modernity affords people increasingly greater freedom of choice. Individuals in modern society become less predictable as externally-imposed constraints on what they believe, feel, and do are replaced by self-regulatory processes. The present volume reports the progress psychologists have made toward unraveling the mystery of how individuals regulate themselves. The volume provides a comprehensive and coherently organized review of the exciting new development in this rapidly emerging field of social psychological research.' - Yaacov Trope, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Social Program Coordinator, New York University

Table of Contents:
J.P. Forgas, R.F. Baumeister, D.M. Tice, The Psychology of Self-Regulation: An Introductory Review. Part 1. Motivational Processes in Self-Regulation. R.F. Baumeister, J.L. Alquist, Self-Regulation as Limited Resource: Strength Model of Control and Depletion. C. Sansone, What's Interest Got to do with It?: Potential Trade-Offs in the Self-Regulation of Motivation. M. Friese, M. Wanke, W. Hofmann, Unscrambling Self-Regulatory Behavior Determination: The Interplay of Impulse Strength, Reflective Processes, and Control Resources. C. Sedikides, On Self-Protection and Self-Enhancement Regulation: The Role of Self-Improvement and Social Norms. C. Unkelbach, H. Plessner, D. Memmert, 'Fit' in Sports: Self-Regulation and Athletic Performances. Part 2. Self-Regulation and Goal-Oriented Behavior. C.S. Carver, M.F. Scheier, Action, Affect, Multi-Tasking, and Layers of Control. G. Oettingen, P.M. Gollwitzer, Making Goal Pursuit Effective: Expectancy-Dependent Goal Setting and Planned Goal Striving. J. Forster, N. Liberman, Goal Gradients: Challenges to a Basic Principle of Motivation. A. Fishbach, The Dynamics of Self-Regulation. G.M. Fitzsimons, J. Friesen, E. Orehek, A.W. Kruglanski, Progress-Induced Goal Shifting As A Self-Regulatory Strategy. Part 3. Affective and Cognitive Processes in Self-Regulation. D.M. Tice, How Emotions Affect Self-Regulation. S.L. Koole, Does Emotion Regulation Help or Hurt Self-Regulation? T.F. Denson, Angry Rumination and the Self-Regulation of Aggression. K. Fiedler, M. Bluemke, C. Unkelbach, Exerting Control over Allegedly Automatic Associative Processes. Part 4. Self-Regulation and Social and Interpersonal Processes. H. Blanton, D.L. Hall, Punishing Difference and Rewarding Diversity: A Deviance Regulation Analysis of Social Structure. K.D. Vohs, J.D. Lasaleta, B. Fennis, Self-Regulation in the Interpersonal Sphere. W.V. Hippel, R. Ronay, Executive Functions and Self-Control. E.J. Finkel, D.C. Molden, S.E. Johnson, P.W. Eastwick, Regulatory Focus and Romantic Alternatives.

Author Biography:
University of New South Wales, Sydney University of New South Wales, Australia Florida State University