Chocolate & Self-control
What is self-control? Is it a type of knowledge? Is it a skill? Does practicing self-control make it stronger? Does exercising self-control make a person fatigued? Can a person’s self-control be altered—made stronger or weaker?
Psychological researchers have pondered such questions about self-control for years. A group of researchers at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, Ohio, conducted an
experiment that attempted to answer some of the questions about self-control. Chocolate, one area in which many people have difficulty exercising self-control, figured prominently in their experiment. The CWRU researchers reported on their work and its conclusions at the American Psychological Association in Toronto, Canada, in August 1996.
The elements of their experiment were as follows:
● Establish a pool of participants composed of 67 undergraduate students who had not eaten in three hours.
● Divide participants into three groups.
● Expose two groups to the aroma of chocolate chip cookies baking.
● Place plates containing chocolate chip cookies and plates containing radishes before the two groups.
● Have one group eat only chocolate chip cookies, and have the other group eat only radishes.
● Allow five minutes of unsupervised time for eating.
● Do not expose the third group to the aroma of chocolate chip cookies baking, and do not give them anything to eat.
● Assign all three groups the boring task of tracing geometric figures.
● Tell the groups to stop when they become tired or feel unable to continue.
● Monitor the three groups to determine how long each group perseveres in performing the boring assignment.
Can you guess what happened and what the experiment revealed? The result of the experiment was that the group allowed to eat only radishes gave up tracing the geometric figures earlier on average than the other two groups. Thus, the CWRU researchers judged that the effort of exercising self-control and not eating the chocolate chip cookies reduced the radish eaters’ strength for the tracing assignment.
Directions: Using the study above, cite an example of each term listed below. The hypothesis is shown as a model. After you have done that answer the 3 reflection questions
Hypothesis: Exerting self-control causes fatigue.
1. Experimental group:
2. Control group:
The group with cookies
3. Independent variable:
4. Dependent variable:
5. Conclusion:
1. students who were in the room with the aroma of cookies but were allowed to eat only radishes
2. group with cookies
3. the amount of self control that the situation required
4. the fatigue experienced by the students when performing a boring task
5. exerting self control by not eating the cookies reduces one's strength for a boring task.
good luck!
1. Experimental group: The group that was exposed to the aroma of chocolate chip cookies baking and allowed to eat only radishes during the experiment.
2. Control group: The group that was not exposed to the aroma of chocolate chip cookies baking, and did not receive anything to eat during the experiment.
3. Independent variable: Exerting self-control (by eating only radishes) vs. not exerting self-control (by eating chocolate chip cookies).
4. Dependent variable: The duration of perseverance in performing the boring assignment of tracing geometric figures.
5. Conclusion: The experiment revealed that the group allowed to eat only radishes, and therefore had to exert self-control, gave up on the task of tracing geometric figures earlier compared to the group that ate chocolate chip cookies. This suggests that exerting self-control can lead to fatigue and reduced ability to persevere in subsequent tasks.
I'll give you a start.
1. Both groups with cookies.
2. group without cookies
3. Choosing a less appealing food
4. Efficiency on doing a boring task
5. I'll leave the conclusion up to you.