Willpower?? In This Economy?? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 13, 2026 · 1H 6M

Willpower?? In This Economy??

from WAISTD · host Corey Phelps

The podcast episode delves into the concept of willpower, its history, scientific studies, and its impact on different communities. It explores the role of glucose in fueling willpower, the influence of dopamine and serotonin, and the importance of creating an environment that minimizes the need for willpower. The episode provides practical strategies for using willpower effectively and emphasizes the fatigable nature of willpower as a key takeaway. The conversation delves into the strategic use of willpower, the importance of controlling the environment, strengthening willpower, creating alternatives, the relationship between habits and identity, maximizing willpower, effort and performance control, managing willpower, overcoming failure, small wins and goals, and understanding willpower.Marshmallow Study (Delayed Gratification)Original:Mischel, Ebbesen, Zeiss (1972)https://doi.org/10.1037/h0032198Follow-up / replication:Watts, Duncan, Quan (2018)https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/dev-dev0000380.pdfEnvironment & trust version:University of Rochester replicationhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167268114003126––––––––––––––Radish vs Cookie Study (Ego Depletion)Baumeister et al. (1998)“Ego Depletion: Is the Active Self a Limited Resource?”https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.5.1252––––––––––––––Emotion Regulation / Sad Movie / WillpowerMuraven, Baumeister (2000)“Self-Regulation and Depletion of Limited Resources”https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.82.5.774Gross & Levenson (1997)Emotion suppression using film clipshttps://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.1.224––––––––––––––Students, Stress, Persistence (Self-Control Backfire)Inzlicht & Schmeichel (2012)“What Is Ego Depletion? Toward a Mechanistic Revision”https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721412455734Inzlicht et al. (2014)Self-control under stress reduces later performancehttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2014.03.004––––––––––––––Milkshake Study (Mindset + Physiology)Crum et al. (2011)“Mindsets, Not Just Nutrients, Determine Ghrelin Response”https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2011.02.003(PubMed)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21574706/

The podcast episode delves into the concept of willpower, its history, scientific studies, and its impact on different communities. It explores the role of glucose in fueling willpower, the influence of dopamine and serotonin, and the importance of creating an environment that minimizes the need for willpower. The episode provides practical strategies for using willpower effectively and emphasizes the fatigable nature of willpower as a key takeaway. The conversation delves into the strategic use of willpower, the importance of controlling the environment, strengthening willpower, creating alternatives, the relationship between habits and identity, maximizing willpower, effort and performance control, managing willpower, overcoming failure, small wins and goals, and understanding willpower.Marshmallow Study (Delayed Gratification)Original:Mischel, Ebbesen, Zeiss (1972)https://doi.org/10.1037/h0032198Follow-up / replication:Watts, Duncan, Quan (2018)https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/dev-dev0000380.pdfEnvironment & trust version:University of Rochester replicationhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167268114003126––––––––––––––Radish vs Cookie Study (Ego Depletion)Baumeister et al. (1998)“Ego Depletion: Is the Active Self a Limited Resource?”https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.5.1252––––––––––––––Emotion Regulation / Sad Movie / WillpowerMuraven, Baumeister (2000)“Self-Regulation and Depletion of Limited Resources”https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.82.5.774Gross & Levenson (1997)Emotion suppression using film clipshttps://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.1.224––––––––––––––Students, Stress, Persistence (Self-Control Backfire)Inzlicht & Schmeichel (2012)“What Is Ego Depletion? Toward a Mechanistic Revision”https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721412455734Inzlicht et al. (2014)Self-control under stress reduces later performancehttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2014.03.004––––––––––––––Milkshake Study (Mindset + Physiology)Crum et al. (2011)“Mindsets, Not Just Nutrients, Determine Ghrelin Response”https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2011.02.003(PubMed)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21574706/

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Willpower?? In This Economy??

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The podcast episode delves into the concept of willpower, its history, scientific studies, and its impact on different communities. It explores the role of glucose in fueling willpower, the influence of dopamine and serotonin, and the importance of...

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