Working memory capacity as an executive function of self-regulatory behavior

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25380847
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Social psychology
• Research Institution: Tohoku Fukushi University
• Principal Investigator: Yoshida Ayano 東北福祉大学, 総合福祉学部, 准教授 (10367576)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: ワーキングメモリキャパシティ / 自己制御 / 自我枯渇 / プライミング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Working memory capacity (WMC) is the ability to control one’s attention, which differs among individuals. This study investigated the effects of WMC on self-regulation. The results revealed that WMC was related to a low degree of procrastination behavior and error behavior in daily life. Moreover, when compared with low-WMC participants, high-WMC participants reported a smaller number of intrusive thoughts during a thought suppression task, and they more successful at a self-regulation task after an ego-depletion manipulation. The possibility that WMC supports not only conscious self-regulation, but also an unconscious self-regulation process, is considered.

Free Research Field

社会心理学