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Persistence: What does research on self-regulation and delay of gratification have to say?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 December 2013

Vivian Zayas
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-7601. vz29@cornell.eduhttp://people.psych.cornell.edu/~pac_lab/gg294@cornell.eduhttp://cornellpsych.org/people/gunaydin/gp289@cornell.eduhttp://people.psych.cornell.edu/~pac_lab/
Gül Günaydin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-7601. vz29@cornell.eduhttp://people.psych.cornell.edu/~pac_lab/gg294@cornell.eduhttp://cornellpsych.org/people/gunaydin/gp289@cornell.eduhttp://people.psych.cornell.edu/~pac_lab/
Gayathri Pandey
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-7601. vz29@cornell.eduhttp://people.psych.cornell.edu/~pac_lab/gg294@cornell.eduhttp://cornellpsych.org/people/gunaydin/gp289@cornell.eduhttp://people.psych.cornell.edu/~pac_lab/

Abstract

Despite the simplicity of Kurzban et al.'s framework, we argue that important information is lost in their simplification. We discuss research on delay of gratification and self-regulation that identifies key situational and psychological factors affecting how people represent rewards and costs. These factors affect the expected utilities of behavioral options and thus dramatically influence whether individuals persist on a difficult task.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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