The Science of Self-Control
The Science of Self-Control
This book proposes a new science of self-control based on the principles of behavioral psychology and economics. Claiming that insight and self-knowledge are insufficient for controlling one’s behavior, Howard Rachlin argues that the only way to achieve such control — and ultimately happiness — is through the development of harmonious patterns of behavior.Most personal problems with self-control arise because people have difficulty delaying immediate gratification for a better reward. The alcoholic prefers to drink now. If she is feeling good, a drink will make her feel better. If she is feeling bad, a drink will make her feel better. The problem is that drinking will eventually make her feel worse. This sequence — the consistent choice of a high-valued particular act (such as having a drink or a smoke) that leads to a low-valued pattern of acts — is called the primrose path .To avoid it, the author presents the strategy of soft commitment , consisting of the development of valuable patterns of behavior that bridge over individual temptation. He also proposes, from economics, the concept of the substitutability of positive addictions , such as social activity or exercise, for negative addictions , such as drug abuse or overeating.Self-control may be seen as an interaction with one’s future self. Rachlin shows that indeed the value of the whole — of one’s whole life — is far greater than the sum of the values of the individual parts.
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