Back to the Future: Why Grit and Self-Control Matter in Health and Achievement

presented by Dr. Robert A. Swoap

As technologies in health promotion grow and evolve, it is worth examining a few of the basic principles in health behavior change. In this breakout session, we explore why self-control and grit matter, why it is important to know the difference, and how to build both. Grit allows us to pursue and reach goals over extensive periods of time. Self-control involves the capacity to move our thoughts and behaviors away from momentary temptations and towards responses consistent with our goals. Drawing on the science of health & sport psychology, we will discuss how to develop both grit and self-control as complementary skills rather than as immutable traits. We will investigate neurocognitive processes involved in this pursuit, and what brain stimulation technology tells us about self-control. Finally, we will examine the central role of psychological connectedness to the future self in health behavior change.