Willpower Theories and Empathy Across Time-of-Day - OSF
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Whether you believe willpower is limitless or finite might literally change how empathetic you are — and the time of day could be the hidden variable that reveals it all.
Ego Depletion TheoryImplicit Theories of WillpowerEmpathyResource Model of Self-Control
Theory Briefing
- Researchers are testing whether implicit theories of willpower — limited vs. unlimited — predict shifts in empathy throughout the day.
- The 'limited resource' view of willpower (ego depletion) suggests self-control drains over time, potentially leaving less capacity for empathic concern.
- Time-of-day acts as a natural experiment, revealing how mental fatigue and mindset interact to shape our capacity to feel for others.