Type of Document	Thesis
Author	Alquist, Jessica L.
Author's Email Address	alquist@psy.fsu.edu
URN	etd-11082010-114248
Title	What you don't know can hurt you: Uncertainty depletes self-control resources
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Psychology, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Roy F. Baumeister Committee Chair Dianne M. Tice Committee Member Jesse Cougle Committee Member
Keywords	self-control self-regulation uncertainty
Date of Defense	2010-10-04
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract Three studies provide evidence that feeling uncertain impairs subsequent self-control. Participants were randomly assigned to either uncertain conditions (uncertain about how to complete a task; not knowing whether they would have to give a speech later) or control conditions (clear how to complete a task; definitely will or will not have to give a speech). Uncertainty caused poor performance measures of self-control unrelated to the uncertainty manipulation. Uncertainty impaired self-control even more than certainty of negative outcome (definitely will have to make speech). Findings suggest that coping with uncertainty depletes mental energy.
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