Comments on: How good are you at Self-Control? http://sciconrev.org/2008/11/how-good-are-you-at-self-control/ News from the Scientific Study of Consciousness Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:55:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Alain Morin http://sciconrev.org/2008/11/how-good-are-you-at-self-control/comment-page-1/#comment-284171 Alain Morin Mon, 08 Dec 2008 06:04:20 +0000 http://sciconrev.org/?p=1079#comment-284171 In response to the comment made above: (1) It is indeed good to remind us that working memory is made up of both a verbal component (inner speech) and a visuo-spatial component (imagery). In my SCR Feature I deliberately simplified the picture and exclusively focused on the potential link between the verbal component of working memory and self-regulation. It thus remains possible that imagery too plays an active role in self-regulation/control. Note here (a) that my argument has never been that «self-control equates to greater capacity for self-talk», but rather that «inner speech promotes self-control», and (b) to my knowledge, research showing a link between visuo-spatial skills and self-regulation is non-existent. (2) Cognitive therapy (e.g., Beck’s work, as well as Meichembaum’s, Ellis’, etc.) does not suggest that self-talk per se is detrimental to self-control. Instead, it shows that some individuals misuse inner speech by either overusing it or by distorting it (by engaging in negative thought patterns), which leads to poor self-regulation indeed. These individuals are «self-ruminators» as opposed to «self-reflectors» -- see Trapnell and Campbell (1999). Healthy use of inner speech translates into highly effective self-regulation. In response to the comment made above:
(1) It is indeed good to remind us that working memory is made up of both a verbal component (inner speech) and a visuo-spatial component (imagery). In my SCR Feature I deliberately simplified the picture and exclusively focused on the potential link between the verbal component of working memory and self-regulation. It thus remains possible that imagery too plays an active role in self-regulation/control. Note here (a) that my argument has never been that «self-control equates to greater capacity for self-talk», but rather that «inner speech promotes self-control», and (b) to my knowledge, research showing a link between visuo-spatial skills and self-regulation is non-existent.

(2) Cognitive therapy (e.g., Beck’s work, as well as Meichembaum’s, Ellis’, etc.) does not suggest that self-talk per se is detrimental to self-control. Instead, it shows that some individuals misuse inner speech by either overusing it or by distorting it (by engaging in negative thought patterns), which leads to poor self-regulation indeed. These individuals are «self-ruminators» as opposed to «self-reflectors» — see Trapnell and Campbell (1999). Healthy use of inner speech translates into highly effective self-regulation.

]]> By: whit http://sciconrev.org/2008/11/how-good-are-you-at-self-control/comment-page-1/#comment-284148 whit Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:43:49 +0000 http://sciconrev.org/?p=1079#comment-284148 How do you factor in the research showing that visuo-spatial working memory and verbal working memory are separable capacities (see Robert Logie's work)? So for instance, if your WMC test is "keeping several words in mind while doing math problems," have you determined whether the subject's strategy with math is primarily verbal or visuo-spatial? If the WMC capacity test is effectively finding greater visuo-spatial working memory, rather than verbal, then it might be that self-control more correlates with a capacity for "vision" of goals than "self-talk" of goals. Until you disambiguate this, the argument that self-control equates to greater capacity for self-talk isn't strong. You also should contend with Aaron Beck's findings suggesting that self-talk, lodged presumably in working memory, often leads to a neurotic lack of self-control, which can be improved precisely by training subjects to gain psychological distance from the self-talk - what his well-proven "cognitive therapy" consists in. In folk psychology, of course, inner speech just is self-control, and there's a homunculus over there producing it, or is it that we're supposed to be the homunculus? All the standard arguments against a homunculus need to be disarmed, perhaps by better separating your claim from the folk psychological picture. Also, even if better self-control capacity correlates with better verbal (as compared to visuo-spatial) working memory capacity, you need to show that it isn't the other way around: that better self-control capacity produces better working memory capacity. Keeping something within working memory is itself arguably an instance of self-control. How do you factor in the research showing that visuo-spatial working memory and verbal working memory are separable capacities (see Robert Logie’s work)? So for instance, if your WMC test is “keeping several words in mind while doing math problems,” have you determined whether the subject’s strategy with math is primarily verbal or visuo-spatial? If the WMC capacity test is effectively finding greater visuo-spatial working memory, rather than verbal, then it might be that self-control more correlates with a capacity for “vision” of goals than “self-talk” of goals. Until you disambiguate this, the argument that self-control equates to greater capacity for self-talk isn’t strong.

You also should contend with Aaron Beck’s findings suggesting that self-talk, lodged presumably in working memory, often leads to a neurotic lack of self-control, which can be improved precisely by training subjects to gain psychological distance from the self-talk – what his well-proven “cognitive therapy” consists in.

In folk psychology, of course, inner speech just is self-control, and there’s a homunculus over there producing it, or is it that we’re supposed to be the homunculus? All the standard arguments against a homunculus need to be disarmed, perhaps by better separating your claim from the folk psychological picture.

Also, even if better self-control capacity correlates with better verbal (as compared to visuo-spatial) working memory capacity, you need to show that it isn’t the other way around: that better self-control capacity produces better working memory capacity. Keeping something within working memory is itself arguably an instance of self-control.

]]>