Is There Any Science Behind Willpower? Possibly, and It Could Influence Long-Term Goals

There’s a birthday cake in the conference room. A dish of candy at the reception desk. A box of Girl Scout cookies someone left in the break room with a note reading “help yourself!”

Although some people may cheerfully think, ‘don’t mind if I do’ while snatching a Samoa, others may try to avoid the treats only to give in to temptation later in the day. With a cookie in hand, they may announce they simply have no willpower around chocolate.

Motivational psychologists are finding that it’s not just whether a person believes they have willpower. The amount of willpower a person believes they possess can influence both everyday choices and larger goal-setting.