The Ego Depletion Theory: Are There Limited Mental Resources?
The theory of ego depletion suggests that there is a state of depletion of psychic energy so important, that it can impair the ability to self-regulate, at least temporarily.
Among other things, this theory has allowed us to answer questions such as: why is it more difficult to perform a task after exposing ourselves to exhaustion 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 exhaustion model has allowed us to analyze the elements involved in our ability to make decisions and execute tasks that involve mental effort. In this article we will see what the above consists of and through what studies it has been explained, as well as some manifestations of this psychological phenomenon in everyday life.
One of the most studied topics in psychology has been self-regulation, considered as the ability of the “I” to alter its own behavior. This ability is very useful in adaptive terms, since allows us to adjust our actions to the demands of the environment.
In this sense, self-regulation involves a set of decisions that we make to contain an impulse or behavior. That is, there is an important component of “will”, which in turn depends on the ability of the “I” to exercise it.
Since the first 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 in a vacuum. To achieve it, the ego has to make use of a significant level of psychic energy.
In more recent times, theories such as ego depletion confirm that there is a type of energy or psychic force involved in volitional acts. Thus, psychic energy is an indispensable resource for us to achieve self-regulation. But do we have unlimited reserves of this energy? If not, what happens to our will?
The theory of exhaustion suggests precisely that, depending on the energy we have, we may or may not initiate voluntary behaviors (we will quickly give up on tasks due to lack of energy resources). In other words, self-regulation can be modified if there has been prior exhaustion of psychic energy.
Baumeister and other representative studies
Psychologist Roy Baumeister, a pioneer in this theory, defines “ego depletion” as a state in which the “I” does not have all the resources it normally possesses. For this reason, some of the executive functions it is responsible for (such as self-regulation, decision making, and behavioral activation) depend on how many of those resources have been consumed or are available.
This researcher proposes that an important part of the “I” has limited resources, which are used for all acts that involve one’s own will. That is to say, being limited, the resources are not enough 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, impairing subsequent tasks. In other words, after making a significant 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 seen that the efforts we make to adapt to stressful situations involve such a high “psychic cost” that harms or impairs subsequent activity (even if they are activities that are not related to the stressful situation).
For example, the mental efforts made to contain behaviors that give us pleasure; Like when we try very hard to follow a diet, 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 self-regulation exercise generates so much ego depletion that people give up faster when performing a subsequent task (even though it apparently has nothing to do with it). with the white bear, as an anagram test).
Likewise, other research on ego depletion theory suggests that significant mental efforts, such as cognitive dissonance and emotional repression, lead to ego depletion and impact subsequent decision making. In the same sense, some studies have suggested that the greater the depletion of the ego, the less the feeling of guilt and/or empathy. And with this, less probability of exercising 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 the use of psychic energy on our decisions, abilities 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, have 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 ego depletion compensation. through pleasant and rewarding physiological experiences. For example, trying foods or drinks high in glucose.
In the same sense, a significant activation of the heart rate has been observed in the face of high effort to exercise self-control (an effort that is greater at a higher level of exhaustion), which means that psychological effort has direct repercussions on our body.
