The diminishing power of willpower

For many, a new year brings a determination to break old habits or start new, positive ones.

At this time of year “holiday treats and year-end sales confront us at every turn”, so we indulge because it would be “Scrooge-like” to refuse, said psychologist Angela Duckworth in The New York Times. The logical conclusion would be to “try harder” to say no, but studying how people achieve their goals, the opposite may be true. “Willpower is overrated.”

‘Cultural hangover’

Though unwavering self-control may be lauded socially...