Executive functions and self-regulation. Academic Article

abstract

• Self-regulation is a core aspect of adaptive human behavior that has been studied, largely in parallel, through the lenses of social and personality psychology as well as cognitive psychology. Here, we argue for more communication between these disciplines and highlight recent research that speaks to their connection. We outline how basic facets of executive functioning (working memory operations, behavioral inhibition, and task-switching) may subserve successful self-regulation. We also argue that temporary reductions in executive functions underlie many of the situational risk factors identified in the social psychological research on self-regulation and review recent evidence that the training of executive functions holds significant potential for improving poor self-regulation in problem populations.

authors

• Schmeichel, Brandon

published proceedings

• Trends Cogn Sci

altmetric score

• 17.75

author list (cited authors)

• Hofmann, W., Schmeichel, B. J., & Baddeley, A. D.

citation count

• 1200

complete list of authors

• Hofmann, Wilhelm||Schmeichel, Brandon J||Baddeley, Alan D

publication date

• January 2012

publisher

• Elsevier  Publisher

published in

• Trends in Cognitive Sciences  Journal

keywords

• Executive Function
• Humans
• Inhibition, Psychological
• Memory, Short-Term
• Social Control, Informal

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1016/j.tics.2012.01.006

start page

• 174

end page

• 180

volume

• 16

issue

• 3

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2012.01.006