Ego Depletion Reduces Proselfs’ Concern with the Well-Being of Others

Publication Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-2010

Abstract

Previous research suggests that people predisposed toward a more cooperative orientation are stronger at self-control and, accordingly, are better able to ward off the adverse impact of ego depletion on self-regulation (Seeley and Gardner, 2003). Building on this research, we tested the hypothesis that ego depletion would lead to a reduction in concern with the well-being of others among proselfs, but not among prosocials. Study 1 supported the basic proposition that prosocials are higher than proselfs in trait self-control. In Study 2, participants originally classified as prosocials versus proselfs based on mathematical games engaged in an ego depletion task or a control task and later completed a similar measure of prosocial versus proself values. Supporting the primary hypothesis, ego depletion reduced proselfs concern with the well-being of others at time 2, but had no impact among prosocials. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Keywords

cooperation, ego depletion, self-regulation, social value orientation

Discipline

Personality and Social Contexts | Social Psychology

Research Areas

Psychology

Publication

Group Processes and Intergroup Relations

Volume

13

Issue

2

First Page

227

Last Page

239

ISSN

1368-4302

Identifier

10.1177/1368430209353634

Publisher

SAGE

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430209353634

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