Control is something that no one wants in their personal life because everyone loves to enjoy their freedom. Parents control the actions of their children, and it is necessary too. But after a certain age, they also stop controlling them. Self-control is very different from being controlled by others. These two are completely different terms in every aspect. Read the article to learn about self-control and “what is low self-control?”.
People must control their behavior in front of society, as it also comes under the self-control theory. It’s like having a two-faced personality. Everyone, at some point, wears masks to conceal their true identity from society. So, behaving in public places requires a lot of self-control.
What is the Definition of Self-Control?
There are so many definitions people can find. So, it is tough to point out the exact definition because everyone is different, and so are their perspectives.
Self-control plays a vital role in a person’s personality. It can be defined as the ability to control one’s actions in every situation, whether public or personal. In other words, “self-control is a kind of ability in an individual that helps them to avoid unacceptable behaviors.”
What is Low Self-Control?
1. Definition
Having less or low self-control means misbehaving with others or getting easily angry in a tense situation. Most of the time, people with less self-control react to something immediately and regret making the wrong decisions later. The actions of people with low self-control are mostly offensive and come under criminal behavior.
2. What Is the Term Used for People with Less Self-Control?
People with less self-control are seen as having a “Lack of inhibitory control”. But it’s not the only term. There are many other terms to define these people. Some of the most commonly used terms are undisciplined, headstrong, inconsistent, impulsive, rude, defiant, and so on.
3. What Are the Characteristics of Low Self-Control?
(i) Someone who lacks self-control is impatient with themselves.
(ii) They create their problems by making wrong decisions and are less expressive regarding emotions or feelings.
(iii) They are mannerless and insensitive towards others.
(iv) They are high-risk-seekers.
(v) They are stubborn.
So, these were the characteristics easily found in people with deviant behavior.
4. Do Psychology and Sociology Have the Same Definition of Low Self-Control?
It’s normal to raise questions like “what is low self-control” in psychology and sociology because these are two different fields. So, it’s obvious that their views on something will differ as well.
Psychology is the study of the human mind. So, low self-control has been defined deeply. According to psychology, having low self-control can result in unacceptable behavior from an individual. For example, addiction to something, poor performance in every field, obesity, etc.
Sociology is the study of human societies. So, it will define it as per social behavior. According to sociology, it is termed the “general theory of crime” because people with this type of behavior are very impulsive, and their actions can hurt normal people.
So, there is not much difference between low self-control in psychology and sociology because, somehow, both connect people with society.
5. Self-Control Scale
The self-control scale is an instrument used to measure the general trait of self-control. A ‘self-monitoring’ test helps determine an individual’s behavior during social situations.
The BSCS (brief self-control scale) is slightly longer than usual. It is a 13-item version of the instrument that focuses on the behavioral aspect of self-control. This test is estimated to take 10 minutes and is used for people 12 years or older.
The multidimensional self-control (MSCS) is an instrument that works similarly to the SCS (self-control scale) and BSCS (brief self-control scale). The only difference is that it has 29 items in it.
5.1. How Does the Scale Measure Self-Control?
You can measure your self-control by filling in some questionnaires given by the observer. The patient is given a pen and a piece of paper to attempt the tickmark or yes/no questions within a given period. If the patient is uncomfortable or, for some reason, unable to give the test, then their close ones can also answer in their place.
6. What is Control Theory?
This control theory is also known as PCT (Perceptual Control Theory) in psychology. PCT is a model in which the behavior of humans is based on the negative properties of a control loop. The theory states that continuous feedback from a human perception changes an individual’s behavior in different circumstances, not outside incentives.
The theory states that you only act when you think things are out of your control. So, you have a sense of control which helps you manage yourself and find a meaningful purpose in life. We human beings are social animals, and that teaches us to behave properly in social situations. Its application makes your personality more charming and will make your life easier and happier.
7. Is High Self-Control Better than Low Self-Control?
Everyone is aware of the fact that anything in a neutral proportion is good. But high self-control is good for every human being. According to psychology, people who have high self-control are much happier.
It’s the ability to regulate one’s self that can bring success. People with this ability are excellent in every aspect of life, whether in work, relationships, goals, or health.
7.1. Characteristics of High Self-Control
(i) Very disciplined. You’ll have fewer chances of having any problems with people with high self-control people.
(ii) Respect everyone’s emotions and are organized.
(iii) Don’t indulge in bad habits like smoking, drinking, drugs, etc.
(iv) maintain good relationships with everyone.
(v) Less stressed because they know how to manage it.
(vi) They have academic and interpersonal skills to succeed in their lives.
8. What Are the Negative Consequences of Low Self-Control?
(i) People with low self-control are most likely to deal with some psychological disorders.
(ii) They suffer from mental illnesses as well, like suffering from depression or anxiety attacks. And also deal with stress and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).
(iii) Their behavior towards everyone is likely antisocial and can harm others.
(iv) There is a high chance of facing difficulties in the workplace, especially in finances.
(v) They have so much aggression that it can result in criminal offenses.
(vi) They are not good at maintaining relationships. So, there is a high chance of relationship failure in their life.
(vii) They overthink a lot. For example, if they are told they have less patience because of a lack of self-control, they will overthink what low self-control means and how it relates to them.
9. How to Develop Self-Control?
There are so many ways that will help people develop self-control in themselves easily. But first, they should know what low self-control is, then they can apply these tips to develop a good level of self-control:
i) First and foremost thing you should try is Yoga. It helps people in balancing themselves.
ii) You should be goal-oriented and driven to achieve them.
iii) You should eat healthy foods and get enough rest.
iv) You should maintain a positive attitude toward others for them to behave appropriately.
v) You should practice patience.
vi) You should not make hasty decisions.
vii) You should seek professional help, for example, a psychologist.
10. Hirschi’s General Theory
Hirschi’s theory is also known as the “general theory of crime.” Not only Hirschi but Gottfredson also contributed to the development of this theory.
According to this theory, people having less self-control are more likely to indulge in criminal behavior or other undesired behaviors. It also states that parenting can result in a child with low self-control. Thus, parents should monitor their children’s behavior, make them understand misbehaving, and ask them to correct it. If parents don’t monitor the actions of their children, they will pass all the bad manners on to their younger selves.
As per the general theory of crime, low self-control ability in children should be corrected at least by the age of 10. During the research, they tested the core empirical implications for children. There have been many arguments in favor of the general theory of self-control.
11. Why Is It Said that Low Self-Control Is Connected with Crime?
This is because people who have low self-control are impulsive by nature. They may be insensitive too, and there is a high chance for them to harm others.
Psychology has demonstrated that people who lack self-control can also commit criminal acts. They commit crimes because they want immediate gratification that they can get through indulging in criminal behavior.
12. Does Low Self-Control Affect Mental Health?
People with low self-control do something unacceptable. They put pressure on their brains to figure out how they did it when they realize their actions afterward. What is low self-control, and how do you overcome it? Sometimes these thoughts run continuously through their heads, causing mental health problems.
They are not good at making social bonds, and their behavior toward society seems offensive, sometimes resulting in criminal activity.
As mentioned above, there are also more chances that a person with low self-control can get into depression easily. Other mental disorders they normally face are anxiety and stress due to overthinking.
Mental disorders can also cause them to get addicted to bad things like alcohol, drug use, smoking, etc. The conclusion is that low self-control affects an individual’s mental health.
13. Does Positive Psychology Help?
If it’s about positive psychology, it helps deal with low self-control. How can it have negative consequences if the word “positive” is in its name?
Positive psychology deals with positive norms and behaviors and helps people reduce their uncontrollable behavior towards others. It can teach anyone a perfect life course and control low self-control.
It is the muscle core of self-control. Applying positive psychology will help an individual deal with low self-control more easily, and the more it is practiced, the more it will get stronger. It also boosts the social and emotional well-being of an individual. It can also be considered the key to happiness.
14. Things a Person with Poor Self-Control Should Do
i) Understanding of low self-control.
ii) Meditation, yoga asanas, or exercises that will help them control themselves.
iii) Seeking help from professionals because they can suggest the best ways to overcome it.
iv) Eating healthy foods.
v) Working on their patience and improving behavior.
vi) Have a goal-focused mindset.
15. How is Executive Functioning Related to Self-Control?
An individual’s executive function is a function that controls cognitive behavior. This function helps regulate mental processes such as thinking, planning, and focusing. Self-control is also one of the functions of mental processes.
It plays a crucial role in the self-regulation of human beings. All the cognitive activities a human being can do are because of the executive function.
15.1. What Happens When the Executive Function Stops Working?
As mentioned above, all the activities are done by humans because of it. So, if it stops working, no one will be able to think or plan properly before doing anything. It won’t be easy to regulate mental processes without it. It will also affect an individual’s personal and professional life. There is a high chance that people without this will fail in every aspect of their life.
16. Why is it Important to Overcome Low Self-Control?
It is important to overcome low self-control to balance mental health and life. Many articles can tell people about “what is low self-control” and why it is necessary. But one of the European journals has described it so briefly that everyone should read it.
According to the journal, low self-control is associated with negative outcomes. There have been a lot of experiments about it, and all of them have proven that people with low self-control have to deal with feelings of loneliness because they have no social skills, are less cooperative, and are highly aggressive, which leads them to be alone.
There has been a lot of research on low self-control, and one thing they all have in common is “loneliness.” But it is not given as much attention as it needs. People don’t take this as a serious issue, but in reality, it is.
Low self-control always leads to negative consequences. According to a survey by BBC Radio, adults aged 16–24 years most often experience feelings of loneliness. In 2018, approximately 40% of young people reported feeling lonely, which has increased.
Self-control plays an important role in our lives. People with high self-control are more trustworthy, and trust is very important to maintain any relationship or connection with others.
People with low self-control tend to have many bad habits, and cheating is one of them. There are high chances of these people cheating on someone, which is one of the main reasons for relationship failure.
To live in society and to improve oneself, it is necessary to get rid of low self-control. People with low self-control can harm themselves, too, as they keep pushing their limits to achieve their goals. They become hard on themselves, which leads to failure.
To cope with their failures, they punish themselves and sometimes others. In the end, it also results in addiction to smoking, drinking, drugs, etc. So, self-control has its dark side; before reaching this level, it is necessary to control it.
17. What is CBT?
CBT is a term that stands for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It can be guessed easily from its name that CBT is a therapy for mental disorders. Before seeking assistance or therapy, the patient should know “what is low self-control?”.
In this therapy, the patients learn to behave in an organized manner and get rid of rubbish thoughts in their minds. It helps an individual identify behaviors and actions that are ungrateful towards others.
The three main functions of CBT are behaviors, feelings, and emotions. There are a few exercises that an individual needs to do under this therapy to cope with their issues.
17.1. Examples of CBT Exercises
i) Exposure therapy helps patients confront their phobias and fears. This therapy will help patients cope with their fears and make them more confident.
ii) Role-playing is one of the most important parts of CBT therapy. It helps to improve communication skills, develop social skills, and solve problems.
iii) Cognitive reframing is the topmost priority of the therapy. It helps to remove all the negative thoughts from a person’s mind.
For example, if a person is told that they have low self-control by others, they will overthink “what is low self-control” and whether the people around them are right.
So, in this case, cognitive reframing is the best option that a person should go for. As mentioned above, it removes all an individual’s negative thoughts or stress.
iv) Meditation is one of the best things to do. Every day, practicing meditation keeps the body mentally and physically balanced.
An individual must know “what is low self-control” to determine its symptoms before trying any exercises.
18. How Does Low Self-Control Develop in An Individual?
Psychology says it develops in any individual from early childhood and needs to be cured during childhood too. It won’t be easy to overcome if a person carries it until they are young.
Most parents avoid the symptoms of having low self-control in their children because they think their children will get better with time. But some children fail to overcome it, which can become a serious issue in adulthood.
At a young age, an individual has to face many personal and professional problems because of low self-control. So it is necessary to cure it for the sake of the mental peace of an individual.
19. What is Offender Therapy?
Please don’t go with its name. It’s not a therapy that is performed to offend people.
It’s not therapy either but the name of a pre-reviewed journal, “The International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology.” It’s a journal that publishes articles or other information related to criminology.
It has been proved by psychology that people with low self-control manifest a tendency to commit crimes easily. Some of their behaviors also fall under the category of criminal behavior. The only purpose of this journal is to educate people in the field of criminology.
They also write about ways to get rid of the problems caused by a lack of self-control in an individual. If someone wants to know “what is low self-control?” they should read the journal mentioned above in the article.
20. Can People with Low Self-Control Harm the Environment?
Data collected by some researchers suggest that there is a high chance of adults who can harm the environment through their criminally offensive behavior towards nature. Harming the environment by a person having low self-control comes under the theory of criminology.
According to the American Journal of Criminal Justice, not all environmental harm is caused by these people. Some people do it for their business purposes as well, to make a profit out of it.
They can indeed harm the environment, but they are not responsible every time because some damage is also non-criminal.
21. How Is Life for A Person with Low Self-Control?
It is already mentioned above in the article that people with low self-control fail to maintain relationships. They face difficulties in every aspect of life, even academics, by not getting better grades. So there is no doubt that these people are all alone in their lives, and loneliness is one of the major causes of depression.
According to empirical studies, it has been proven that people with low self-control are predictors of crime. They have delinquent behavior towards others. There are so many ways and meta-analyses that help an individual overcome the feeling of low self-control. The first and foremost thing these people should do is to know “what is low self-control?”
22. Marshmallow Test to Determine Self-Control
The marshmallow test is used to measure children’s self-control ability. It measures the impulsive attitude in children, which should be adjusted before adulthood.
In this test, a child is asked to wait for their favorite things. If the child waits patiently, they are considered fine. But if they show impulsiveness, it means they have less self-control. The age required for this test is 3-5 years. But before seeking any tests, the guardians should know what low self-control is and its symptoms.
Conclusion
Having low self-control in any individual can cause so many undesired results. It won’t be wrong to say that people with this attitude are more likely to lose relationships because of their troublesome behavior. They face the worst phase in their lives, and no one wants to talk to them, not even their close ones.
You can overcome it, but before jumping into it, an individual must properly know “what is low self-control?”. It also affects their mental health. So, the best way is to understand it thoroughly and take help from professionals.
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Last Updated on by NamitaSoren