Self-control, mindfulness, and motivational interference during studying and leisure time

• Applicant: Axel Grund, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Developmental and Educational Psychology
• Term: from 2016 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 290387327

In the present research proposal, self-control, defined as the capacity to override momentary impulses in favor of long-term goal pursuit and mindfulness, defined as the ability to pay attention to the present moment in a non-judgmental way, are contrasted as two alternative approaches to self-regulation with regard to proximal and distal outcomes. Motivational interference refers to the negative impact that conflicting action alternatives have on current experience and performance and reflects proximal destabilizations in self-regulation. Distal outcomes of self-regulation are investigated with regard academic achievement, interest development, leisure functioning and general well-being.It is proposed that self-control has a discriminating, judgmental function and therefore fosters self-regulation especially in achievement-oriented settings and with regard to goal achievement. On the other side, mindfulness is assumed to have a more fundamental function that builds on self-insight and therefore fosters self-regulation and well-being in various domains.Three studies are proposed, all of them using so-called intensive longitudinal methods (ILM, cf. Bolger & Laurenceau, 2013). In ILM, participants provide sequences of repeated measurements over one week or several months, allowing one to characterize naturally occurring change processes in everyday life and separate change processes for each subject. Thereby, ILM combines the advantages of high ecological validity and the possibility to investigate within-person change processes.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Stefan Fries