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On Self-Control - by Hank Robb
[Slightly abridged and edited by Henry Steinberger]
'self-control' is:
a) what you build up, develop, create, learn by controlling your behavior
repeatedly - regard self-control as a skill; b) NOT a THING you have [or
don't have] that lets you control your behavior [or not].
When some one says:
'I have no self-control over my drinking,' or whatever, I can ask:
'Are you well practiced at resisting urges or opportunities to use.' The
answer is
'no'.
This person is well practiced in giving in to those urges and
opportunities.
Self-control over urges and opportunities is like self-control over
bicycles and roller skates -- you get it by practicing. The reason
individuals, correctly, feel they don't have it is because they haven't
been practicing that which gives it to them. In this case, the SKILL not
well practiced is resisting urges and opportunities to use.
That is why those who do practice resisting urges [self-control], after
awhile, report that it becomes easier and easier to continue. They have
been exercising and building their self control and now have begun to show
a fair bit of this skill.
In every day language, thinking you must first have self-control before
you acquire a change in your behavior is 'putting the cart before the
horse.' Self- control comes from making the change in your behavior.
Self-control may also involve strategies by Henry Steinberger We might add
that self-control may involve learning new strategies to bridge the
difficult initial
learning period.
In one famous study, children were left with a candy bar and told that if
they didn't eat it they would get two candy bars. The children who
resisted the temptation while alone were secretly observed and found to
use verbal self-
reminders and distracting activities. Children who didn't resist were
later able to do so after being taught strategies for better self-control.
We have a toolbox of such techniques, but they all require using them.
Henry Steinberger PhD
[Professional Advisor to SMART Recovery and Moderation Management in
Madison] Licensed Psychologist
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