Why Too Much Self-Control Can Be a Bad Thing

Self-control refers to our ability to restrain acting on momentary urges, impulses, and wants in favor of longer term goals. Who doesn’t want more of that?  Most of us think that it’s important to have a lot of willpower, to be able to resist temptation. We all hope that we’ll be able to avoid giving into that impulse to eat more ice cream, keep ourselves from expressing anger at a loved one, or make ourselves finish an important project even though we don’t feel like it. And generally, self-control is a good thing. Society needs people with high levels of self-control, those who can inhibit their momentary desires, think about long term goals, and take planful action toward them. What if we can have too much of a good thing? So if a little is good, a lot must be better right? Or, could it be that there is such a thing as excessive self-control? New research suggests so. This body of research shows that excessive self-control can actually be a problem for some people.  This is the central idea behind Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO DBT), a new evidence-based therapy for people who engage in excessive self-control, or, people who are “overcontrolled”. Overcontrolled people are typically: Conscientious and responsible Risk averse and overly cautious People who have a hard time relaxing and “taking it easy.” Perfectionistic People who have high personal standards, even if they feel like they can’t always meet them Excessively rigid and...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anorexia Anxiety and Panic Depression Eating Disorders Habits Happiness Personality Psychology Psychotherapy Relationships Stress Treatment Dbt Impulsive Behavior Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy Reactivity Self Source Type: blogs