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Cited by 4,510Behavioral Health and InterventionsGrit, Self-Efficacy, and MotivationNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 137 of the 137 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Self-regulation and depletion of limited resources: Does self-control resemble a muscle?

Muraven, Mark, Baumeister, Roy F.·2000·Psychological Bulletin
DOI 10.1037/0033-2909.126.2.247
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Abstract

The authors review evidence that self-control may consume a limited resource. Exerting self-control may consume self-control strength, reducing the amount of strength available for subsequent self-control efforts. Coping with stress, regulating negative affect, and resisting temptations require self-control, and after such self-control efforts, subsequent attempts at self-control are more likely to fail. Continuous self-control efforts, such as vigilance, also degrade over time. These decrements in self-control are probably not due to negative moods or learned helplessness produced by the initial self-control attempt. These decrements appear to be specific to behaviors that involve self-control; behaviors that do not require self-control neither consume nor require self-control strength. It is concluded that the executive component of the self--in particular, inhibition--relies on a limited, consumable resource.

Overview

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Crossref · 10.1037/0033-2909.126.2.247

Cites

137 of 137 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Verification

Claims the paper makes

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Claims other papers make about this one

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  • Efforts to exert self-control, focus attention, inhibit urges, or regulate thoughts, feelings, and behaviors deplete self-control resources.

    “Most of this research has focused on the depletion of these self-control “muscles,” in which efforts to exert self-control, focus attention, inhibit urges, or regulate thoughts, feelings, and behaviors deplete these resources.”

    From Psychological flexibility as a fundamental aspect of health (2010) · cites this paper as Muraven & Baumeister, 2000

  • When self-control efforts are excessive, performance on a subsequent task requiring self-control is impaired.

    “This leads to the prediction that when self-control efforts are excessive, one should observe impaired performance on any subsequent task requiring self-control effort (Muraven & Baumeister, 2000).”

    From Psychological flexibility as a fundamental aspect of health (2010) · cites this paper as Muraven & Baumeister, 2000

  • Even individuals with significant pre-existing cognitive reserves are susceptible to the ironic effects of over-control, especially under conditions of stress.

    “although even these individuals are susceptible to the ironic effects of over-control, especially under conditions of stress (Garland et al. 2014; Muraven and Baumeister 2000).”

    From Mindfulness, Acceptance and Defusion Strategies in Smokers: A Systematic Review of Laboratory Studies (2018) · cites this paper as Muraven and Baumeister 2000

  • Strategies that emphasise control over internal experiences (thoughts and feelings) are likely only to be successful in those with significant pre-existing cognitive reserves.

    “strategies that emphasise control over internal experiences (thoughts and feelings) are likely only to be successful in those with significant pre-existing cognitive reserves”

    From Mindfulness, Acceptance and Defusion Strategies in Smokers: A Systematic Review of Laboratory Studies (2018) · cites this paper as Muraven and Baumeister 2000

  • These findings may correspond to the notion of the general self-regulation concept as being closely related to emotion regulation.

    “These findings may correspond to the notion of the general self-regulation concept (Baumeister et al., 1998; Muraven and Baumeister, 2000) as being closely related to emotion regulation (Vohs and Baumeister, 2011; Vago and Silbersweig, 2012).”

    From Effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on body awareness in patients with chronic pain and comorbid depression (2016) · cites this paper as Muraven and Baumeister, 2000

Citations

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 16

  1. 10.1037/0033-2909.121.1.65 · DOI · Paper page
  2. Baumeister, 1998, The self., 680
  3. 10.1037/0022-3514.74.5.1252 · DOI · Paper page
  4. 10.1037/0033-2909.92.1.111 · DOI · Paper page
  5. Cohen, 1978, Environmental load and the allocation of attention., Vol. 1, 1
  6. Davies, 1969, Human vigilance performance.
  7. Freud, 1957, Repression., Vol. 14, 146
  8. Hayes, 1996, Relational frame theory and executive function: A behavioral analysis., 279
  9. Higgins, 1981, Accessibility of social constructs: Information processing consequences of individual and contextual variability., 69
  10. Marlatt, 1985, Relapse prevention.
  11. Matthews, 1989, Why do unpredictable events lead to reports of physical symptoms?, 91
  12. Parasuraman, 1984, Sustained attention in detection and discrimination., 243
  13. Polivy, 1990, Inhibition of internally cued behavior., Vol. 2, 131
  14. 10.1037/0022-3514.45.6.1243 · DOI
  15. Wadden, 1992, Predictors of attrition and weight loss in patients treated by moderate and caloric restriction., 383
  16. 10.1037/0022-3514.53.1.5 · DOI · Paper page

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Metadata

Authors
Muraven, M., & Baumeister, R. F.
Affiliations
Case Western Reserve University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Psychological Bulletin
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2000
Volume
126
Issue
2
Pages
247-259
ISSN
  • 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1455
DOI
10.1037/0033-2909.126.2.247
OpenAlex
W2113390049
Cited by
4,510
References
135
Citations by year
2026: 186 · 2025: 208 · 2024: 200 · 2023: 183 · 2022: 237 · 2021: 218 · 2020: 198 · 2019: 272 · 2018: 260 · 2017: 225 · 2016: 253 · 2015: 297 · 2014: 289 · 2013: 267 · 2012: 201
FWCI
45.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01mh057039-05, 5r01mh051482-03)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH 57039, MH-51482)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Grit, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords
self-control, self-regulation, resource constraints, ego depletion, executive function, inhibition, sustained attention, stress coping, negative affect regulation, resistance to temptation
MeSH terms
Attention, Depression, Physical Exertion, Helplessness, Learned, Internal-External Control, Motivation

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