The mental association between subjective vitality, energy conservation motivation, and cognitive effort motivation according to the schema model of self-control

Abstract According to the schema model of self-control, repetitive self-control efforts falter due to the activation of a reduced vitality schema, resulting in increased motivation to conserve energy and reduced cognitive efforts. Building on these assumptions, we conducted two randomized controlled studies to examine the mental associations individuals form between subjective vitality, motivation to conserve energy, and motivation for cognitive effort. In both studies, the participants were presented with vignettes featuring fictitious characters described as either vital or non-vital. In Study 1 ( N = 487), participants attributed higher motivation to conserve energy and lower cognitive motivation to the character described as having low subjective vitality. This finding indicates that participants seem to hold a vitality schema, in which perceived levels of vitality influence how cognitive resources are allocated. Furthermore, the motivation to conserve energy was found to partially mediate the relationship between subjective vitality and cognitive motivation, aligning with the schema model’s predictions. Study 2 ( N = 449) successfully replicated the findings of Study 1 using different measures. Overall, the empirical evaluation of this sub-component of the schema model adds a crucial piece to the postulated causal chain, emphasizing the importance of schema-based approaches in self-control research and opening new perspectives for investigating the mechanisms of cognitive resource allocation. Our results provide a promising foundation for future studies to investigate the schema model at a behavioral level, as mental representations can be viewed as precursors that prompt individuals to translate their cognitive concepts into corresponding actions.