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Restraint bias is a cognitive bias wherein individuals overestimate their ability to control impulses or resist temptations. This often results in exposing oneself to situations with higher risk of succumbing to temptation, as the perceived self-control is mistakenly assumed to be sufficient to handle it.
Restraint bias functions by skewing an individual's perception of their own self-control. People may believe they can handle temptations better than they actually can, leading to overconfidence. This misjudgment can arise from underestimating the power of immediate temptations or from a failure to accurately recall past instances of lost control.
The overconfidence stemming from restraint bias can lead to overexposure to temptations, resulting in repeated failures to achieve goals, such as dieting, saving money, or maintaining productivity. This can cause frustration, decreased self-esteem, and potential negative impacts on personal and professional relationships.
To counteract restraint bias, individuals can practice self-awareness and mindfulness to better recognize their limits. Setting stricter boundaries or using external tools such as apps to block distractions can help. Seeking feedback from others and reflecting on past instances where control was lost can also provide more realistic insights into one's capabilities.
Some critiques of the concept of restraint bias focus on the influence of external factors such as stress or peer pressure that might override perceived self-control, suggesting that the bias isn’t solely a misjudgment of personal ability. Additionally, there are arguments regarding the lack of universal applicability of the bias across different cultural contexts or personality types.
Time-inconsistent preferences and consumer self-control
Hoch, S. J., & Loewenstein, G. F. (1991)
Journal of Consumer Research
The restraint bias: How the illusion of self-restraint promotes impulsive behavior
Nordgren, L. F., van Harreveld, F., & van der Pligt, J. (2009)
Psychological Science