Vocabulary
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- finite /FAHY-nahyt/
- tenacity /tuh-NAS-i-tee/
- deplete /dih-PLEET/
- accumulate /uh-KYOO-myuh-leyt/
- constrained /kuhn-STREYND/
[adjective] – having a limit or end
We must protect the finite resources of the world.
[noun] – the determination to continue what you are doing
He has shown great tenacity in his studies of paleontology.
[verb] – to reduce something in size or amount, especially supplies of energy, money, etc.
Warehouse inventories should be depleted by May.
[verb] – to gradually increase in number or amount
Dust and dirt quickly accumulate if a house is not cleaned on a regular basis.
[adjective] – forced to act or behave in a particular way
Don’t feel constrained to follow his instructions.
Article reading
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Everyday demands seem to be aimed at putting our self-control to the test. Willpower is frequently perceived as being rigid and finite. But there are effective methods that can raise it.
Our mental attention and self-control capacities seem to be influenced by our thoughts. According to research, even if you can use your willpower to resist temptation, you can lack it later on when you need it for a task. For instance, when people avoid eating cookies that are temptingly placed on a table, they later demonstrate less tenacity when completing a mathematical problem because their willpower supplies have been depleted. The term “ego depletion” is used to describe this process. However, psychologist Veronika Job questioned the principles of this theory in a study she released in 2010 that included some intriguing evidence that ego depletion was dependent on people’s underlying beliefs. You are said to have a “limited” view of willpower when situations accumulate that test you with temptations and make it harder to reject them. Nonetheless, you are said to have a “non-limited” view of willpower if you have just rejected a powerful temptation, feel strengthened, and can withstand fresh temptations. Job discovered that those with constrained thinking frequently behaved as the ego depletion theory would anticipate. But there were no indications of ego depletion in those who had a non-limited perspective.
What can we do if we have been assuming that our self-control supplies are readily depleted? Do not anticipate immediate miracles. Perseverance will help you change your mindset.
Our mental attention and self-control capacities seem to be influenced by our thoughts. According to research, even if you can use your willpower to resist temptation, you can lack it later on when you need it for a task. For instance, when people avoid eating cookies that are temptingly placed on a table, they later demonstrate less tenacity when completing a mathematical problem because their willpower supplies have been depleted. The term “ego depletion” is used to describe this process. However, psychologist Veronika Job questioned the principles of this theory in a study she released in 2010 that included some intriguing evidence that ego depletion was dependent on people’s underlying beliefs. You are said to have a “limited” view of willpower when situations accumulate that test you with temptations and make it harder to reject them. Nonetheless, you are said to have a “non-limited” view of willpower if you have just rejected a powerful temptation, feel strengthened, and can withstand fresh temptations. Job discovered that those with constrained thinking frequently behaved as the ego depletion theory would anticipate. But there were no indications of ego depletion in those who had a non-limited perspective.
What can we do if we have been assuming that our self-control supplies are readily depleted? Do not anticipate immediate miracles. Perseverance will help you change your mindset.
Discussion Questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you made any impulsive decisions? Please tell me more about them.
- What do you do when you feel your motivation dropping?
- Do you consider yourself someone with a “limited” or “non-limited” view of willpower? Why?
- Do you agree that ego depletion depends on people’s beliefs?
- How can people change their mindset to keep their self-control?
Summarization
Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.
Describe
Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.
- rigid
- influence (verb)
- principle
- withstand
- perseverance