Willpower as Cultural Construct: Do Chinese Students Believe Less in Its Depletion?

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00988

Paper

Willpower as Cultural Construct: Do Chinese Students Believe Less in Its Depletion?

Published May 3, 2019 · Xin Sun, K. Cortina, K. Miller

Frontiers in Psychology

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Abstract

The idea of ego-depletion has been examined extensively in western cultures, but cultural background might substantially influence the understanding and effect of the concept. In the present study we used Job et al. (2010) Implicit Theories on Willpower Questionnaire to examine whether Chinese college students, compared to United States students, are less inclined to believe that willpower depletes. Applying two-group confirmatory structural equation modeling, the questionnaire with its two subscales – depletion of mental resources (DMR) and depletion of resistance to temptation – showed consistent psychometrical qualities across both samples. As predicted, Chinese student believed less in the concept of DMR than United States students. However, Chinese students showed a stronger belief in the depletion of resisting temptation (DRT) compared to their United States counterparts, suggesting different normative contexts for the response to the two subscales across cultures.

Observational Study

Study Snapshot

Chinese college students believe less in the concept of depletion of mental resources but more in the depletion of resisting temptation, suggesting cultural differences in understanding and affecting willpower.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

Paper

Willpower as Cultural Construct: Do Chinese Students Believe Less in Its Depletion?

References

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Indians exhibit reverse ego-depletion, where they exhibit better mental self-control after working on strenuous cognitive tasks, due to culturally shaped beliefs about exerting willpower.

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Citations

Exploring occupational well-being profiles, outcomes, and predictors among Chinese teachers: A mixed-methods approach using latent profile and decision tree analysis.

Chinese teachers can be categorized into three occupational well-being profiles: burnout, engaged, and burnout-engaged, with factors like marital status, teaching experience, income, and role influencing these profiles.

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Compassion Fatigue as a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Believing Compassion Is Limited Increases Fatigue and Decreases Compassion

Believing compassion is limited can reinforce compassion fatigue, leading to lower feelings of compassion, lower-quality social support, and more fatigue.

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