Trait self-control, emotions, and openness to alternative viewpoints

• Main Authors: TSAI, Ming-hong, LI, Norman P.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2023
• Subjects: Self-control; Fatigue; Anger; Positive emotions; Openness; Applied Behavior Analysis; Social Psychology
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/3789; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/5047/viewcontent/TraitsSelfControlEmotionsAndOpennessToAlternativeViewpoints__1_.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

We examined openness to alternative viewpoints as an unexplored consequence of trait self-control. We conducted three studies to investigate the relationship between trait self-control and openness to alternative viewpoints during situations with different opinions and to explore various emotions as potential mediators of this relationship. Our results demonstrated a positive relationship between trait self-control and openness, and this relationship was mediated by decreased anger and increased emotions with positive valence, including attentiveness and serenity. In addition, trait self-control was negatively related to fatigue, but the relationship between fatigue and openness was not consistently significant across the studies. These findings clarify the relationships between trait self-control and emotions and elucidate why individuals consider others’ different perspectives.