What causes procrastination?
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Summary
10 papers analyzed
These studies suggest procrastination is caused by a combination of task aversion, self-efficacy, impulsiveness, conscientiousness, psychological inflexibility, personal internal factors, situational factors, perfectionism, cognitive closure, low self-esteem, panic disorder symptoms, and poor time management.
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Introduction
Procrastination is a widespread and complex behavior characterized by the unnecessary delay of tasks despite potential negative consequences. It is often seen as a failure of self-regulation and is influenced by various psychological, cognitive, and situational factors. Understanding the causes of procrastination is crucial for developing effective interventions to mitigate its impact on productivity and well-being.
Key Insights
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Personality Traits and Self-Regulation:
- Low conscientiousness, low self-control, and high impulsiveness are strong predictors of procrastination .
- Neuroticism, rebelliousness, and sensation seeking show only weak connections to procrastination.
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Motivational and Cognitive Factors:
- Low self-efficacy and low intrinsic motivation are significant contributors to procrastination .
- Psychological inflexibility, including experiential avoidance and diminished mindfulness, is associated with higher levels of procrastination.
- Procrastinators often exhibit cognitive features such as a weak focus on the present, avoidance in decision-making, and low self-organization.
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Emotional and Psychological Influences:
- Anxiety, particularly symptoms of panic disorder and social anxiety disorder, correlates with higher levels of procrastination .
- Procrastination is linked to low self-esteem and fear of failure .
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Task and Situational Factors:
- Task aversiveness and task delay are consistent predictors of procrastination .
- Having too many tasks at one time and poor time management skills significantly influence procrastination habits.
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Behavioral Patterns and Rationalizations:
- Procrastination is often justified through "crooked thinking," such as perfectionism, feelings of inadequacy, and discomfort.
- Bedtime procrastination can be categorized into deliberate procrastination (seeking personal time), mindless procrastination (losing track of time), and strategic delay (attempting to fall asleep more quickly).
Conclusion
Procrastination is a multifaceted behavior influenced by a combination of personality traits, motivational and cognitive factors, emotional and psychological influences, task and situational factors, and behavioral patterns. Key contributors include low conscientiousness, low self-efficacy, psychological inflexibility, anxiety, task aversiveness, and poor time management. Understanding these diverse causes can help in designing targeted interventions to reduce procrastination and improve productivity and well-being.
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