Bernecker, Katharina (2016). Implicit theories about willpower and their consequences for achievement, health, and well-being. (Dissertation, Universität Zürich, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)

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The present thesis examines implications of implicit theories about willpower for achievement, health, and well-being. Part I demonstrates that the belief that willpower resembles a limited (versus nonlimited) resource is associated with self-control failure in everyday life (e.g., procrastination) and low academic achievement in students. In Part II, findings suggest that the belief that willpower is a limited resource is associated with poorer treatment adherence and lower well-being in a sample of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The research studies presented in Part III suggest that the belief that willpower is a limited resource is also associated with lower subjective well-being in other samples and even predicts a decrease in subjective well-being over the course of one academic year in students. This relationship is statistically mediated by lower progress in personal goals. Finally, the results of Part IV suggest that implicit theories of willpower can be changed with the help of a targeted intervention. However, there are mixed results regarding the effect of this intervention on self-control in everyday life. In sum, the present thesis shows the relevance of willpower theories for self-control in everyday life and important outcomes associated with successful self-control. Limitations of the present research and opportunities for future research are discussed.

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