Quote:
Originally Posted by MattyC
So if that's the case, is a lack of will power a disease that can be treated? Or just an unfortunate physiological/biological trait?
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I don't think it's either, I think what we see as will power is actually just a label we give of a person's response to a given set of circumstances.
One person eats normally, is it because they have will power? Or is it just because they're not hungry. It's not will power to not eat if you have no desire to eat.
If one person takes a bite of cake and they think "mm.. cake" and then move on, but another person takes a bite and has an orgasm, is it will power that makes one person desire cake less? Or is it because their perceptions are different?
If one person should be working but surfs the internet instead, while another person employs knows their enjoyment of random internet cats is higher than most people's so employs some strategies to ensure they stay on task, do they have more will power? Or do they have more knowledge about themselves and psychology?
Will power might be a thing, but if it is then I think it's a trait that like most have a biological component, plus a psychological component that's influenced by environment. It might be able to improved with practice, it's probably weakened by overuse, by stress, by physical health.. it can probably be re-enforced by social support, family and friends.
EDIT: But if it is a thing, I think its role in things is small, given the difficulty in things like obesity and quitting smoking and stopping looking at the Internet.