The ego depletion theory: are there limited mental resources?

An idea about the functioning of the mind according to which we have limited psychic energy.

The ego depletion theory suggests that there is a state of psychic energy depletion so significant that it can impair our ability to self-regulate. so significant that it can impair our ability to self-regulate, at least temporarily.

Among other things, this theory has made it possible to answer questions such as: why is it more difficult to perform a task after being exposed to a burnout or mental conflict? what are the events that generate ego depletion? do efforts to contain behaviors generate a decrease in our self-regulation?

Through numerous studies, the burnout model has made it possible to analyze the elements involved in our ability to make decisions and perform tasks involving mental effort. In this article we will see what this consists of and through which studies it has been explained, as well as some manifestations of this psychological phenomenon in everyday life.

Ego depletion theory: is self-regulation limited?

One of the topics most studied by psychology has been self-regulation, considered as the capacity of the "self" to alter its own behavior. This capacity is very useful in adaptive terms, as it allows us to adjust our actions to the demands of the environment. allows us to adjust our actions to the demands of the environment..

In this sense, self-regulation implies a set of decisions we make to contain an impulse or behavior. In other words, there is an important component of "will", which in turn depends on the capacity of the "I" to exercise it.

Already since the earliest psychoanalytic theories, the "I" (the "ego") has been described as a part of the psyche that must constantly deal with external reality, mediating between internal conflicts or desires and external pressures. But this is not achieved out of thin air. To achieve it, the ego has to make use of a significant level of psychic energy to achieve this..

In more recent times, theories such as ego depletion confirm that there is a type of psychic energy or force involved in volitional acts. This being so, psychic energy is an indispensable resource for us to achieve self-regulation. But do we have unlimited reserves of such energy? If not, what happens to our will?

The theory of depletion suggests precisely that, depending on the energy available to us, we will be able to initiate voluntary behaviors, or not (we will quickly give up tasks due to lack of energy resources). In other words, self-regulation can be modified if there has been a previous depletion of psychic energy. of psychic energy.

Baumeister and other representative studies

Psychologist Roy Baumeister, a pioneer in this theory, defines "ego depletion" (ego depletion, originally) as a state in which the "I" does not have all the resources it normally possesses. Therefore, some of the executive functions for which it is responsible (such as self-regulation, decision-making and behavioral activation) depend on how many of these resources have been consumed or are available.

This researcher proposes that an important part of the "I" possesses limited resources, which are used for all acts of self-regulation, decision-making and behavioral activation.which are used for all acts involving one's own will. That is to say that, being limited, resources are not sufficient for all acts, at least not if they are presented consecutively.

Thus, as a psychological phenomenon, ego depletion makes the "I" temporarily less capable and less willing to function optimally, deteriorating subsequent tasks. In other words, after making a major mental effort, the "I" is exhausted, generating a state of fatigue or relaxation in which the person's ability to self-regulate worsens.

In fact, some studies have shown that the efforts we make to adapt to stressful situations involve such a high "psychic cost" that they impairs or deteriorates subsequent activity (even if these activities are not related to the stressful situation).

For example, the mental efforts made to contain behaviors that generate pleasure; such as when we try very hard to follow a diet, and at the first opportunity to enjoy a pleasurable food our self-regulation drops considerably (we overeat).

Another example is a study where it was shown that when a person tries not to think about a white bear, this exercise of self-regulation generates so much ego depletion that people give up faster when performing a subsequent task (even if it apparently has nothing to do with the white bear, such as an anagram test).

Likewise, other research in ego depletion theory suggests that major mental efforts, such as cognitive dissonance and emotional repression, generate ego depletion and impact on decision making. and impact subsequent decision making. In the same vein, some studies have suggested that the greater the ego depletion, the lesser the sense of guilt and/or empathy. And with this, the less likely to exercise prosocial behaviors.

How to recover ego energy?

As we have seen, ego depletion is a phenomenon present in many of our daily activities. But this theory has not only allowed us to analyze the repercussions of psychic energy depletion on our decisions, capabilities and behavior.

The theory of ego depletion has also allowed us to analyze the importance of basic issues to compensate for fatigue, such as rest. Braumeister himself, along with his collaborators, has suggested that there are compensatory and restorative measures of psychic strength: sleep and positive emotional experiences, mainly.

In the same vein, other researchers have studied the compensation of ego depletion. through pleasurable and rewarding physiological experiences.. For example, tasting foods or beverages with high glucose content.

In the same sense, an important activation of the Heart rate has been observed in the face of high effort to exercise self-control (effort that is greater the higher the level of exhaustion), which means that psychic effort has direct repercussions on our body.

Bibliographical references:

• Baumeister, R. and Vohs, K. (2007). Self-Regulation, Ego Depletion and Motivation. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 1(1): 115-128.
• Baumeister, R. (2002). Ego Depletion and Self-Control Failure: An Energy Model of the Self's Executive Function. Self and Identity, 1(2): 129-136.
• Baumeister, R., Bratslavsky, E., Muraven, M., & Tice, D. (1998). Ego depletion: is the active self a limited resource? 74(5): 1252-1265.
• Bejarano, T. (2010). Self-regulation and freedom. Thémata. Revista de Filosofía. 43: 65-86.
• Hagger, M.S. y Chatzisarantis, N.L. (2013). The Sweet Taste of Success The Presence of Glucose in the Oral Cavity Moderates the Depletion of Self-Control Resources. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39: 28-42.
• Xu, H., Bègue, L. y Bushman, B. J. (2012). Too fatigued to care: Ego depletion, guilt, and prosocial behavior. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 43 (5): 379-384.