Abstract

This study investigated the effect of self-regulation on attention to reward-relevant stimuli. Previous research has suggested that exercising self-control leads to a shift in motivation and attention to engage in more rewarding and gratifying activities. Participants either participated in an initial task that required self-regulation or an easier task that did not. In a second task, attention to a critical stimulus that signified reward was analyzed. Results indicated that those who had self-regulated responded more frequently to the critical stimulus than those who had completed the easier task. The two groups did not differ in their responses to non-critical stimuli. This suggests that exercising self-control leads to increased attentional sensitivity to cues that signify reward but not to other stimuli.

Advisor

Gillund, Gary

Department

Psychology

Disciplines

Cognitive Psychology

Keywords

self-regulation, ego depletion, attention

Publication Date

2016

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2016 Jennifer Filak