The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Virtues such ...

In one test, a simulated self-driving car disregarded an active crosswalk because of a sign labeled "Proceed." ...

Traditional self-control advice focuses on building up your capacity to do things you don’t naturally want to do. This is how influencers sell cold plunges, for example. But it’s not just online gurus ...

Have you ever questioned your own sanity? Maybe you’re feeling pushed to the brink and thought I can’t take anymore; this is going to drive me insane. Maybe in these moments you wondered if you could ...

People who can delay gratification and master their impulses thrive in life. And experts say that you can learn skills to rein in bad habits. By Christina Caron We tend to respect and even idolize ...

What does self-discipline look like at work? Sometimes it’s the ability to resist temptation, such as distractions to avoid a particular task, or taking a donut from the break room. Other times it’s ...

Neuroticism may moderate the relationship between certain personality traits and self-control, and the interaction effects appear to differ by the type of self-control, according to a new study.

These are comments I might get when people learn about my lifestyle. I’m one of those annoying people who eat lots of fruits and vegetables, exercise five times a week, save a portion of their salary, ...

Self-control, the ability to override or change internal impulses for the benefit of longer-term, strategic goals, has always been treasured as an admirable human trait. For example, Confucius taught ...

A scientific squabble over how to define self-control draws from an unlikely source: A story from Greek mythology. Sailing home to Ithaca after the Trojan War, Odysseus longed to hear the Sirens’ ...