Term of Award
Spring 2011
Degree Name
Master of Science in Experimental Psychology (M.S.)
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis (open access)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Department of Psychology
Committee Chair
Janie H. Wilson
Committee Member 1
Jeff Klibert
Committee Member 2
William D. McIntosh
Abstract
Ego depletion suggests that self-control draws from a limited resource. Therefore, resistance to immediate temptation can be impaired when that resource is depleted. Participants performed a difficult or easy serial subtraction task (cognitive processing) in front of or in the absence of a video camera (social processing). Participants then completed a delay-of-gratification task where they either chose the immediate, small reward of 1 research participation credit or waited for a larger amount of credit. Participants who completed a difficult task while being recorded by a video camera waited a shorter period of time for more credit than those who performed an easier version of the task while being recorded. Ego depletion, resulting from the interaction of cognitive and social processing, reduced participants' ability to delay gratification and earn a greater reward.
Recommended Citation
Subramaniam, Shrinidhi, "Ego Depletion and Delay of Gratification" (2011). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 439.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/439
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
