Buzz
While self-control doesn't determine our choices, it significantly influences whether and for how long we can stick to them. It largely dictates life outcomes. Interestingly, studies indicate the general public recognizes the critical importance of self-control for their well-being; survey participants consistently identify 'lack of self-control' as the major barrier to making positive life changes. However, there are misconceptions about what self-control entails and how we can develop more of it. For instance, there's a common misunderstanding that having more free time would automatically lead to increased self-control.
B
Even though self-control is often described with simple terms like 'resolve' or 'drive', it actually encompasses a wide range of behaviors and situations. Many believe self-control involves resisting temptations such as sugary drinks or extra time in bed, in favor of healthier choices like drinking water or exercising. This struggle is familiar to everyone.
However, self-control also includes aspects like managing negative thoughts, holding back in social situations, or persisting through difficult tasks. At the core of any act of self-control is 'delayed gratification', where one chooses long-term satisfaction over immediate rewards.
C
Researchers are conducting broad investigations into why some individuals possess greater ability than others to delay gratification and thereby utilize their willpower, though the genetic or environmental origins of this capability remain elusive at present. Certain groups, such as those with addictive tendencies, who are particularly susceptible to diminished willpower, may attribute their issues to biological factors. What is evident is that levels of willpower typically exhibit consistency over time (studies tracking individuals from early childhood through adulthood demonstrate remarkable stability in willpower capacities).
In the short term, however, our capacity to draw upon willpower can fluctuate significantly due to factors such as fatigue, diet, and stress. Indeed, research by Matthew Gailliot suggests that willpower, even in the absence of physical exertion, both demands and depletes blood glucose levels, indicating that willpower functions much like a ‘muscle’, requiring fuel for optimal operation.
D
These observations raise an important question: if our level of willpower at age thirty-five is somehow linked to our abilities at age four, does this mean all efforts to enhance our willpower are destined to be futile? According to recent research, this may not be the case. For instance, Gregory M. Walton found that a single verbal cue – informing research participants how taxing mental tasks could ‘energize’ them for subsequent challenging activities – made a significant difference in the amount of willpower participants could muster to complete the task. Just as negative influences can drain our willpower, it appears that willpower can also be boosted by positive cues, such as encouragement or optimistic self-talk.
E
Enhancing willpower thus requires a dual approach: reducing negative influences while enhancing positive ones. One of the most popular and effective methods involves simply avoiding triggers that deplete willpower, as encapsulated by the saying, ‘out of sight, out of mind’. In one study, employees who kept a bowl of tempting candy on their desks were far more likely to indulge compared to those who kept it in a desk drawer. It also appears that finding intrinsic sources of motivation may be crucial.
In another study, Mark Muraven discovered that individuals who felt compelled by external authority to exercise self-control experienced much faster depletion of their willpower compared to those who identified their own reasons for pursuing a particular course of action. Veronika Job’s research supports the idea that our beliefs about willpower as a finite resource can lead to premature depletion, compared to those who do not hold this view.
F
According to psychologist Roy Baumeister, willpower is crucial for executing our decisions, but its absence isn't always the sole reason for our failures to act on good intentions. Baumeister argues that motivation is a key precursor; if we're only moderately committed to a change, our efforts are likely to falter. This could explain why many of us give up on our New Year's Resolutions – if these were truly actions we deeply desired rather than obligations, we would likely have already taken them.
Furthermore, Muraven underscores the importance of monitoring progress toward goals, such as through a fitness journal or tracking savings for a major purchase. The significance of motivation and monitoring cannot be overstated. It seems that even when our reserves of willpower are completely depleted, motivation alone can be sufficient to keep us on the path we originally set out on.
Questions 1-7
Do the following statements align with the information provided in the Reading Passage?
In boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet, write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
1. Willpower is the most significant factor in determining success in life.
2. People with more free time typically have better willpower.
3. Willpower mostly applies to matters of diet and exercise.
4. The strongest indicator of willpower is the ability to choose long-term rather than short-term rewards.
5. Researchers have studied the genetic basis of willpower.
6. Levels of willpower usually stay the same throughout our lives.
7. Regular physical exercise improves our willpower ability.
Questions 8-13
Examine the statements below (Questions 8-13) and the roster of researchers provided.
Match each statement with the correct person, A–D.
Write the correct letter, A–D, in boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use some letters more than once.
This scholar…
8. Identified a key factor that is necessary for willpower to function.
9. Suggested that willpower is affected by our beliefs.
10. Examined how our body responds to the use of willpower.
11. Discovered how important it is to make and track goals.
12. Found that taking actions to please others decreases our willpower.
13. Found that willpower can increase through simple positive thoughts.
List of People
A Matthew Gailliot
B Gregory M. Walton
C Mark Muraven
D Veronika Job
E Roy Baumeister
Question 14
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a factor in willpower?
Willpower is influenced by:
A Physical factors such as tiredness
B Our fundamental ability to delay pleasure
C The levels of certain chemicals in our brains
D Environmental cues such as the availability of a trigger
Responses:- TRUE (Đoạn A, “It almost single-handedly determines life outcomes.”)
- FALSE (Đoạn A, “There is a widespread misperception, for example, that increased leisure time would lead to subsequent increases in willpower..”)
- FALSE (Đoạn B,
- TRUE (Đoạn
- NOT GIVEN (Không có thông tin)
- TRUE (Đoạn C, “What is clear is that levels of willpower typically remain consistent over time (studies tracking individuals from early childhood to their adult years demonstrate a remarkable consistency in willpower abilities).
- NOT GIVEN (Không có thông tin)
- E (Đoạn F, “A critical precursor, he suggests, is motivation – if we are only mildly invested in the change we are trying to make, our efforts are bound to fall short.”)
- D (Đoạn E, “This idea that our mental convictions can influence willpower was borne out by Veronika Job. Her research indicates that those who think that willpower is a finite resource exhaust their supplies of this commodity long before those who do not hold this opinion.”)
- A (Đoạn C, “ Indeed, research by Matthew Gailliot suggests that willpower, even in the absence of physical activity, both requires and drains blood glucose levels, suggesting that willpower operates more or less like a ‘muscle’, and, like a muscle, requires fuel for optimum functioning.”)
- C (Đoạn F, “In addition, Muraven emphasises the value of monitoring progress towards a desired result, such as by using a fitness journal, or keeping a record of savings toward a new purchase.”)
- C (Đoạn E, “In another study, Mark Muraven found that those who felt compelled by an external authority to exert self-control experienced far greater rates of willpower depletion than those who identified their own reasons for taking a particular course of action.”)
- B (Đoạn D, “Just as our willpower is easily drained by negative influences, it appears that willpower can also be boosted by other prompts, such as encouragement or optimistic self-talk.”)
- C
