Self-Regulation: An Individual Difference Perspective

Self-regulation is the means by which people manage goal-directed behavior. The many processes that constitute self-regulation are numerous and complex - themselves the focus of fields of research. In this chapter, we provide a review of individual differences that relate to self-regulation, including traits directly relevant to self-regulation and traits that affect how people self-regulate. First, we review individual differences that characterize general self-regulatory effectiveness. Next, we review an array of constructs relevant to specific self-regulatory functions, grouped by the most relevant process domain: behavioral, cognitive, and motivational or emotional. Finally, we review individual difference that cross-cut domains.