Research Article

Stop and start control: A distinction within self-control

  1. Benjamin J. de Boer1,*,
  2. Edwin A. J. van Hooft2,
  3. Arnold B. Bakker1

Article first published online: 26 OCT 2010

DOI: 10.1002/per.796

Issue

European Journal of Personality

European Journal of Personality

Volume 25, Issue 5, pages 349–362, September/October 2011

Additional Information

How to Cite

de Boer, B. J., van Hooft, E. A. J. and Bakker, A. B. (2011), Stop and start control: A distinction within self-control. Eur. J. Pers., 25: 349–362. doi: 10.1002/per.796

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Psychology, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

  2. 2

    Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

*Institute of Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, NL-3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 SEP 2011
  2. Article first published online: 26 OCT 2010
  3. Manuscript Revised: 9 SEP 2010
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 9 SEP 2010
  5. Manuscript Received: 18 MAR 2010

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Keywords:

  • affect;
  • self-control;
  • start control;
  • stop control

Abstract

A theoretical distinction within self-control, between stop control and start control, was investigated in two studies. Study 1 consisted of a pilot study in which expert ratings of existing self-control items were used to distinguish between stop and start control items and a confirmatory factor analyses of these items using a student sample (N = 474). Also, stop and start control were related to overall affect and behavioural outcomes. Stop control was negatively related to negative affect, whereas start control was positively related to positive affect. Study 2 (N = 226) replicated some of these findings; stop control was the best predictor (−) of smoking and alcohol consumption whereas start control was the best predictor (+) of exercising and studying. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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