Is ego depletion real?

[Mr Rayon]

What are everyone's thoughts?

[Delta1212]

The last research I saw on the matter called into question whether it really exists or at the very least whether the effect is as broadly relevant as previously thought.

[StringJunky]

 

 

Criticism[edit] Questions and alternative explanations[edit]

Although self-control has traditionally been thought of as a limited resource that can be depleted, some researchers disagree with this model^[2]. While multiple studies provide support for the ego depletion effect, there is currently no direct measure of ego depletion, and studies mainly observe it by measuring how long people persist at a second task after performing a self-control task (the depleting task).^[1] The theory of ego depletion relies on the inner workings of an individual's volition, which can only be indirectly tested; therefore, only inferences can be made.^{[original research?]} Another challenge facing research on ego depletion is the influence of the overall mental conditions of individuals being studied. There is speculation that results may be disrupted in individuals who report experiencing depression and already possess high levels of ego depletion prior to the study.^{[original research?]}

Many ego depletion studies, however, have shown that mood is not relevant to the results. In fact, many of the earlier experiments have tested for the effects of mood and saw no effect of mood whatsoever. Furthermore, the study and measurement of ego depletion may be affected by the confounding effect of cognitive dissonance. Researchers have questioned whether subjects are truly experiencing ego depletion, or whether the individuals are merely experiencing cognitive dissonance in the psychological tasks.^[1]

Process model[edit]

In contrast to the original most known model of self-control, Michael Inzlicht and Brandon J. Schmeichel propose an alternative model of depletion, which they refer to as the process model.^[26] This process model holds that initial exertions of willpower lead an individual's motivation to shift away from control, and towards gratification. As a part of this process, one's attention shifts away from cues that signal the need for control, and towards cues that signal indulgence. Inzlicht and Schmeichel argue that the process model provides a starting point for understanding self-control and that more research examining these cognitive, motivational, and affective influences on self-control is needed.

Reproducibility controversy and conflicting meta analyses[edit]

A 2010 meta analysis found the effect significant. Even after accounting for possible unpublished failed studies, the analysis concluded that it is extremely unlikely that the effect is untrue. ^[27] In 2015, another meta analysis argued that more strict meta analysis and different statistical models show no effect. ^[28][29] Others, however questioned the statistical analysis used in this analysis.^[30]

In 2016, a major study carried out at two dozen labs across the world using a single protocol failed to find any evidence for ego depletion.^[31][32]

^{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ego_depletion}

[elfmotat]

I saw this recently: