There tends to be a relationship between the value of the incentive and the desired outcome: the larger the desired outcome, the larger the value. Some factors that decrease value include delay, effort/cost, and uncertainty. A decision tends to be based on the option with the highest value at the time of the decision

n the worst circumstances people with the most self-control and resilience have the best chance of defying the odds they are faced with

Self-control is also a key concept in the general theory of crime, a major theory in criminology

Self-control demands that an individual work to overcome thoughts, emotions, and automatic responses/impulses.

Weak temptations present more of a challenge to overcome than strong temptations, because they appear less likely to compromise long-term values

Todd A. Hare et al. use functional MRI techniques to show that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) are crucial to the exertion of self-control. They found the vmPFC encoded the value placed on pleasurable, but ultimately self defeating behavior versus that placed on long-term goals. Another... See more

A way to increase self-control in situations of a delayed outcome is to pre-expose the outcome. Pre-exposure reduces the frustrations related to the delay of the outcome. An example of this is signing bonuses.

One technique for inducing high-level construals is asking an individual a series of "why?" questions that lead to increasingly abstracted responses, whereas low-level construals are induced by "how?" questions leading to increasingly concrete answers.

a normal individual should have the capacity to be either impulsive or controlled depending on which is the most adaptive.