Ego Depletion Experiment
Introduction
Ego depletion is the idea that self-control draws upon limited resources that are used up. This idea has been formed on the basis that when energy for mental activity is low, self-control is typically weakened which is considered a state of ego depletion (David McRaney 2012). This idea places a focus on willpower as a limited resource that is easily drained, especially when we engage in acts of self-control. For example, if someone was deprived of their food during the day and were exposed to the smell and images of food, they would most likely struggle to function in daily activities because of the frustration they were experiencing with self- control. This example has demonstrated how when willpower is depleted, we always suffer …show more content…
One group of people that is on a strict diet and cannot eat anything sugary or unhealthy and another group that has no restrictions and are to eat normally. At the beginning of the experiment, the experimenters could get both groups to complete an initial questionnaire regarding how they are feeling at the time and how hungry they are. In addition, the experimenters will ask the people to complete a problem solving activity which will be timed. After this, the experimenters are to expose both groups of people to unhealthy foods such as pizza, chocolate and baked goods by putting them around the room so that the people are exposed to both the foods and the smells, but telling them that they are not allowed to eat any of the food. During this, the experimenters are to give the people another problem solving activity of the same difficulty level as the first one and are to time this one as well. In addition, the experimenters are to give both groups the same questionnaire again, regarding how hungry they are and how they are feeling to indicate the strength of their resistance. This experiment will be useful because not only is the experiment based on prior research, but it is also based on those few experiments in the articles which involved direct involvement with self control. Therefore, this experiment will effectively be able to determine the relationship between self- control, regarding the resistance to the food, and ego- depletion, whether this focus on self-control affected their ability to complete the problem solving
Ego depletion is the idea that self-control draws upon limited resources that are used up. This idea has been formed on the basis that when energy for mental activity is low, self-control is typically weakened which is considered a state of ego depletion (David McRaney 2012). This idea places a focus on willpower as a limited resource that is easily drained, especially when we engage in acts of self-control. For example, if someone was deprived of their food during the day and were exposed to the smell and images of food, they would most likely struggle to function in daily activities because of the frustration they were experiencing with self- control. This example has demonstrated how when willpower is depleted, we always suffer …show more content…
One group of people that is on a strict diet and cannot eat anything sugary or unhealthy and another group that has no restrictions and are to eat normally. At the beginning of the experiment, the experimenters could get both groups to complete an initial questionnaire regarding how they are feeling at the time and how hungry they are. In addition, the experimenters will ask the people to complete a problem solving activity which will be timed. After this, the experimenters are to expose both groups of people to unhealthy foods such as pizza, chocolate and baked goods by putting them around the room so that the people are exposed to both the foods and the smells, but telling them that they are not allowed to eat any of the food. During this, the experimenters are to give the people another problem solving activity of the same difficulty level as the first one and are to time this one as well. In addition, the experimenters are to give both groups the same questionnaire again, regarding how hungry they are and how they are feeling to indicate the strength of their resistance. This experiment will be useful because not only is the experiment based on prior research, but it is also based on those few experiments in the articles which involved direct involvement with self control. Therefore, this experiment will effectively be able to determine the relationship between self- control, regarding the resistance to the food, and ego- depletion, whether this focus on self-control affected their ability to complete the problem solving