Self‐Control: Self‐Regulation and Impulse Control

Self‐control refers to trait and state differences in mental resources used to override automatic responses and engage in goal‐driven behavior. Media psychology has drawn from the strength model of self‐regulation and other perspectives on self‐control to examine how media selection, reception, and effects relate to an individual's executive control over their affect, cognition, and behavior. Diminished conditions of self‐control such as ego depletion and impulsiveness are linked to excessive media use, media use as procrastination, and habitual patterns of media use. A lack of self‐control has also been tied to greater engagement with media content, more susceptibility to influence, and a preference for easier‐to‐process content. Unregulated media use, or feelings of guilt accompanying entertainment media binges, are potentially detrimental to recovery of self‐control. However, some facets of media content allow for engagement that revitalizes self‐control.