Handbook of Self-Regulation

“Self-regulation is emerging as a unifying theme that bridges the biological, behavioral, and social sciences. This book presents a panoramic review of recent theoretical developments and cutting-edge research in the field. The contributors—leading self-regulation researchers—provide an in-depth exploration of the basic mechanisms underlying self-control and their implications for improving people’s pursuit of personal, interpersonal, and group goals. This is a valuable resource for graduate students, researchers, and practitioners interested in the science of self-regulation.”

—Yaacov Trope, PhD, Department of Psychology, New York University


“An all-star roster of the top researchers present their most interesting ideas on self-control: what it is, how it works, how it develops, why some are better at it than others, and why we all experience failures from time to time. This is simply essential reading for any student, scholar, or researcher wanting to understand both the basics and the cutting edge of self-regulation research. This is not a book you will possibly read in one sitting. This is a book so packed with information that you will be coming back to it again and again for years to come.”

—Nicholas Epley, PhD, Booth School of Business, University of Chicago


“Vohs and Baumeister have assembled world-renowned scholars to offer a comprehensive examination of research, theory, and practice in self-regulation. Capturing the latest thinking on self-regulation and its relation to human behavior, the third edition of the Handbook takes a fresh look at basic theory and at the contributions that research on the topic can make in multiple applied fields. I consider this the essential reader on self-regulation for both experienced and aspiring researchers in areas as diverse as social psychology, behavioral science, and cognitive neuroscience.”

—Martin S. Hagger, PhD, John Curtin Distinguished Professor, School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Australia


“If there's one thing all psychologists agree on, it's that self-regulation matters for success. How we can foster it, though, remains an open question. In this volume, foremost scholars Vohs and Baumeister bring together diverse, state-of-the-art views in what can only be described as an integrative masterpiece. I'm certain the third edition of this handbook is destined to be a classic.”

—David DeSteno, PhD, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University