Article ology Review "Because I Am Worth It":A Theoretical Framework and Empirical Review of a Justification-Based Account of Self- Regulation Failure SAGE Jessie C.De Witt Huberts,Catharine Evers', and Denise T.D.De Ridder Abstract Sef-regulation failure is ofen explained as being overwhelmed by impulse.The present article proposes a novel pathwa mework an empiri eview of a justificati d account of self-regulatio failure.With n w ng pa ng a se on of the oa they endorse.Accordingly rather than inhibiti the reflective system can also facilitate them,leading to self-regulation failure.We bring together empirical evidenc e from ins de ng that regul lure and rule out alt ative accounts Having fuel the effect.finally s for future arch and ons of these self-regulation are discussed. Ciregrionsheaionproceses.sefregthionfhilre,eficening rds Meet Sally mark and marey The unable The newly wed c best man Mark will propose a toast and the real gest that an impulsive breakdown of the self-control system an b d by the we dding cake,but only route to self Despite ving in d ies. oes not s-r avert ind ingly nervous about the speech he is about to give.not sure on a justification.These examples ilustrate that sometime whether his jokes are indeed funny.The nerves make him people actively relent their tha crave n cotine is off-limits since he qui e sel g on justif tions to permit them all night.While she 、her friends ntheir drinks While this notior has a al to many of u she regrets her offer to be the designated driver surprisingly,the role of justifications has been afforded rdly any attention as an explanation for self-regulation piece:I ure on that he is allo to have cigarettes in er cies and h sires as an nlanation for Finally,when everybody abandoning long-term goals.While we acknowledge the raises the as falls o he ban t having 'Utrecht University.the Netherlands Most contemporary self-regulation theories would explain ity.Heidelberglaan I.P.O.Box failure to act in accordance with one's long-term goals as the esult of our impulses taking precedence ove reflective Emwitthubuni-potsdam.de 304 Personality and Social Psychology Review 2014, Vol. 18(2) 119–138 © 2013 by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc. Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1088868313507533 pspr.sagepub.com Article Meet Sally, Mark, and Marcy. They are at a wedding party. The newly wed couple is about to cut the cake after which best man Mark will propose a toast and the real celebrations can begin. Sally is mesmerized by the wedding cake, but is in doubt as she is on a weight-loss diet that does not allow such tasty but unhealthy delicacies. Mark is getting increas￾ingly nervous about the speech he is about to give, not sure whether his jokes are indeed funny. The nerves make him crave nicotine, but a cigarette is off-limits since he quit smoking 6 weeks ago. Marcy has been sipping soda water all night. While she sees her friends enjoying their drinks, she regrets her offer to be the designated driver. When the cake is cut, Sally decides that she will have a piece: It is a celebratory occasion after all. Mark also finally caves in and asks his friend for a cigarette, telling himself that he is allowed to have cigarettes in emergencies and, according to Mark, this is one. Finally, when everybody raises their glass for the toast, Marcy also falls of the band￾wagon and has a glass of champagne, reasoning that having just one glass will not interfere with her ability to drive. Most contemporary self-regulation theories would explain failure to act in accordance with one’s long-term goals as the result of our impulses taking precedence over reflective considerations, rendering us unable to resist the lure of immediate temptations. However, the above examples sug￾gest that an impulsive breakdown of the self-control system is not the only route to self-regulation failure. Despite having the self-regulation capacity to avert indulgence, Marcy, Sally, and Mark abandoned their long-term goals by relying on a justification. These examples illustrate that sometimes people actively relent their self-regulation efforts, rather than lose self-control, by relying on justifications to permit them￾selves an otherwise forbidden pleasure. While this notion has a familiar appeal to many of us, surprisingly, the role of justifications has been afforded hardly any attention as an explanation for self-regulation failure. Instead, research on self-regulation failure has, to date, mainly focused on the relative strength of impulses for the gratification of immediate desires as an explanation for abandoning long-term goals. While we acknowledge the 507533 PSRXXX10.1177/1088868313507533Personality and Social Psychology ReviewDe Witt Huberts et al. research-article2013 1 Utrecht University, the Netherlands Corresponding Author: Jessie C. de Witt Huberts, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, P.O. Box 80140, Utrecht, 3508 TC, the Netherlands. Email: witthub@uni-potsdam.de “Because I Am Worth It”: A Theoretical Framework and Empirical Review of a Justification-Based Account of Self￾Regulation Failure Jessie C. De Witt Huberts1 , Catharine Evers1 , and Denise T. D. De Ridder1 Abstract Self-regulation failure is often explained as being overwhelmed by impulse. The present article proposes a novel pathway, presenting a theoretical framework and empirical review of a justification-based account of self-regulation failure. With justification we refer to making excuses for one’s discrepant behavior, so that when experiencing a self-regulation dilemma between immediate impulses and long-term intentions, people resolve the conflict by developing and employing justifications that allow violations of the goal they endorse. Accordingly, rather than inhibiting motivations from the impulsive system, the reflective system can also facilitate them, leading to self-regulation failure. We bring together empirical evidence from various domains demonstrating that justifications can instigate self-regulation failure and rule out alternative accounts. Having established that justification processes contribute to self-regulation failure, we then propose several mechanisms that may fuel the effect. Finally, routes for future research and the conceptual and practical implications of these novel insights for self-regulation are discussed. Keywords self-regulation, justification processes, self-regulation failure, self-licensing Downloaded from psr.sagepub.com at Remen University of China on September 6, 2015