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I'm all for replication and ensuring scientific accuracy - but this does not change my perspective of ego-depletion. I have observed it in myself, time and tim

I'm all for replication and ensuring scientific accuracy - but this does not change my perspective of ego-depletion. I have observed it in myself, time and time again. If not it directly, something similar enough. Even at a glucose level, various studies have shown relation between our blood sugar and ability to tolerate frustration and make decisions. So while the accuracy of ego-depletion may be in question, I can still benefit from reasoning it to be true and challenging my emotions and expectations with that. if/when a better model or perspective comes around i'll surely adopt it. But of course, if this news in some way helpful or freeing for you, by all means ride that wave. Success matters more than truth. I've observed that psychology will sometimes split hairs - arguing over whats true and whats truer. Overall this is good - but it's helpful to consider the proliferation of blatant non-truths out there and how far we've come. Sometimes "good enough" is good enough. Fill in the blanks with the facts you can find today and be willing to swap them out for better ones tomorrow.

dwaltrip 9y ago
> I have observed it in myself, time and time again. If not it directly, something similar enough. [Emphasis added by me] This is the crux. I agree with you that there are certainly some sort of effects related to will-power, self-control, focus, energy levels, and so on. This feels obvious enough, based on everyday experience. But it seems we don't yet know how to isolate, measure, or analyze these dynamics in a highly rigorous way. Of course, there is possibility that the everyday experience is actually by caused some different mechanism we don't understand yet.
BeetleB 9y ago
>Even at a glucose level, various studies have shown relation between our blood sugar and ability to tolerate frustration and make decisions. I think it is exactly these kinds of studies that are being questioned. Can they be reproduced?
- watwut 9y ago
  Stay hungry (e.g. On low calorie diet) for few days and then watch yourself more nerveus and making dumber decisions.
  - fpoling 9y ago
    I fasted for few days on many occasions. The only ill effect was that it was difficult to fall asleep and the sleep was very shallow on second and third night. After that sleep got better. I have not noticed any dumbness. Subjectively perception even improves. This is in line with experience I read in books and articles. Sometime I use that if I need to drive a long way. I stop eating the day before that ensures that I never fall asleep behind the wheel and my attention stays sharp all the time.
sn9 9y ago
Just because you've observed a behavior in yourself doesn't mean it's inevitable. Also, look up the nocebo effect.

dwaltrip 9y ago

> I have observed it in myself, time and time again. If not it directly, something similar enough. [Emphasis added by me] This is the crux. I agree with you that there are certainly some sort of effects related to will-power, self-control, focus, energy levels, and so on. This feels obvious enough, based on everyday experience. But it seems we don't yet know how to isolate, measure, or analyze these dynamics in a highly rigorous way. Of course, there is possibility that the everyday experience is actually by caused some different mechanism we don't understand yet.

BeetleB 9y ago

>Even at a glucose level, various studies have shown relation between our blood sugar and ability to tolerate frustration and make decisions. I think it is exactly these kinds of studies that are being questioned. Can they be reproduced?

watwut 9y ago
Stay hungry (e.g. On low calorie diet) for few days and then watch yourself more nerveus and making dumber decisions.
- fpoling 9y ago
  I fasted for few days on many occasions. The only ill effect was that it was difficult to fall asleep and the sleep was very shallow on second and third night. After that sleep got better. I have not noticed any dumbness. Subjectively perception even improves. This is in line with experience I read in books and articles. Sometime I use that if I need to drive a long way. I stop eating the day before that ensures that I never fall asleep behind the wheel and my attention stays sharp all the time.

sn9 9y ago

Just because you've observed a behavior in yourself doesn't mean it's inevitable. Also, look up the nocebo effect.