Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Self-control refers to an individual's ability to regulate their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in order to achieve long-term goals or resist immediate temptations.
Related terms
Delayed gratification: The ability to forgo immediate rewards in favor of greater rewards in the future.
Inhibition: The act of restraining or suppressing certain thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.
Impulse control disorders: A group of psychiatric disorders characterized by difficulty resisting urges or impulses that may be harmful or disruptive.