Anecdotal impressions and assorted research findings suggest that
substantial individual differences exist in people’s capacity for selfcontrol.
Some people are much better able than others to manage
their lives, hold their tempers, keep their diets, fulfill their promises,
stop after a couple of drinks, save money, persevere at work, keep
secrets, and so forth. These differences seemingly ought to be
associated with greater success and well-being in life. One goal of the
present investigation was to provide some direct evidence that
individual differences in self-control would effectively predict
positive outcomes across a variety of life domains.