Does Anticipating Temptation Help You Resist Temptation?

Posted on September 19, 2015

Thinking about temptations might prepare people to resist future ethical temptations, but only when people view the current decision as reflecting something about who they are as a person rather than just a decision in the moment.

Hence, if people are forced to contemplate that an unethical action might make them an unethical person, then thinking about temptations will reduce unethical behavior in the long run.

A recent study found that participants who thought about previous temptations and read about stability in personality (so that they would feel connected to themselves) tended not to cheat.

Findings from other studies also suggests that in ethical situations, it can also be useful to contemplate temptations before entering a situation in which you might be able to act unethically. Thinking about prior temptations helps primarily when people think of their decisions as reflecting who they are as a person rather than just as an isolated decision.

Click on the link below to read the full article.


Category(s):Addictions, Control Issues, Drug Addiction, Gambling Addiction, Love addiction

Source material from Psychology Today