The Role of Glucose in Self-Control: Another Look at the Evidence and an Alternative Conceptualization

The strength model suggests that self-control relies on a limited resource. One candidate for this resource is glucose. Counter to the proposals of the glucose hypothesis, this study argues that the resource issue is one of allocation, not of limited supply. It addresses the argument from three pers...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Personality and social psychology review 2012-05, Vol.16 (2), p.143-153
Main Authors: Beedie, Christopher J., Lane, Andrew M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation
Adaptation, Physiological - physiology
Biological Evolution
Brain - metabolism
Cognition & reasoning
Glucose
Glucose - metabolism
Humans
Motivation - physiology
Psychological aspects
Psychological Theory
Self control
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Summary:The strength model suggests that self-control relies on a limited resource. One candidate for this resource is glucose. Counter to the proposals of the glucose hypothesis, this study argues that the resource issue is one of allocation, not of limited supply. It addresses the argument from three perspectives: the evolution of mental processes at the species level, the adaptation of these same processes at the individual level, and the physiology of glucose transport. It is argued here that the brain has both sufficient resources and resource delivery mechanisms with which to support self-control but that these resources are allocated in accordance with personal priorities. As an alternative to the limited resource model, the current study proposes a resource-allocation model of self-control and presents several testable hypotheses.
ISSN:1088-8683
1532-7957
DOI:10.1177/1088868311419817