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Self-Control Strength
Kathleen O'Connell
PhD, RN
Professor, Isabel Maitland Stewart Chair of Nursing
Education
Columbia University. |
The theory of self-control
strength is a new theory that posits that self-control
is a limited and consumable resource much like the
strength of a muscle (Muraven & Baumeister, 2000).
According to this theory, self-control can be depleted
and once it is depleted, time and rest are required to
replenish it. Most of the support for the theory of
self-control strength comes from laboratory studies.
Studies typically involve asking subjects to engage in
tasks that require self-control (such as solving
unsolvable puzzles).
"From this theory, I hypothesized," said O'Connell,
"that frequent and prolonged temptations to smoke and
those accompanied by especially high cravings for a
cigarette would deplete self-control resources and
would lead to lapses.
O'Connell believes that her research may be relevant
to other conditions that require self-control, from
over eating to drug abuse. Techniques suggested but
not yet tested are avoiding temptations, which
involves staying out of places where you're tempted
because that diminishes your self-control. Other
suggestions encourage positive experiences, such as,
getting away, having a good time, and relaxing, which
may restore self-control. "Learning to control your
own behavior is critical to a number of
health-promoting practices.
(Extracts from: TC Researchers Receive $1 Million to
Study Self-control in Smoking. By Inside TC Volume VII
No. 2. Published: 10/1/2001)
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Website:
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Professor O'Connell - Faculty Profile, Columbia
University.
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Self-Control Depletion during Smoking Cessation
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Kathleen A. O'Connell, RN, PhD, FAAN,
Isabel Maitland Stewart professor of Nursing
Education, Joseph E. Schwartz, PhD, associate
professor, Saul Shiffman, PhD, professor, David E.
Sleasman, MPH, JD, project coordinator. (The
Advancing Nursing Practice Excellence: State of the
Science. Washington, D.C. 2002)
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Selected Publications:
- Bott, M.J., Cobb, A.K.,
Scheibmeir, M. & O’Connell, K.A. (1997). Quitting:
Smokers relate their experiences. Qualitative Health
Research, 7, 255-269.
- Cobb, A. K., Bott, M. J., &
O’Connell, K. A. (1997). A qualitative/interpretive
taxonomy of stop smoking strategies (QU/ITS).
Western Journal of Nursing Research, 19, 702-725.
- O’Connell, K.A. & Brooks, E.
(1997). Resisting urges and adopting new behaviors.
In Svebak, S. & Apter, M.J. (Eds.), Stress and
Health: A reversal theory perspective. Washington,
D.C.: Taylor and Francis.
- O’Connell, K.A., Gerkovich, M.M.,
Cook, M.R., Shiffman, S., Hickcox, M., & Kakolewski,
K.E., (1998). Coping in real time: Using ecological
momentary assessment techniques to assess coping
with the urge to smoke. Research in Nursing and
Health 21, 487-97.
- O’Connell, K.A., Gerkovich, M.M.,
Bott, M., Cook, M.R., & Shiffman, S. (2000).
Playfulness, arousal-seeking, and rebelliousness
during smoking cessation. Personality and Individual
Differences, 29, 671-683.
- O’Connell, K.A., Gerkovich, M.
M., Bott, M. J., Cook, M. R., & Shiffman, S. (in
press). The effect if anticipatory strategies on the
first day of smoking cessation. Psychology of
Addictive Behaviors.
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