“He predicts that unconscious signals of a stable environment will increase self-control, which helps explains why high social-economic status correlates strongly with self-control.”
What evidence is there that this is true? For what anecdotage is worth (which is probably the only evidence there is on the matter), some of the most out-of-control people I’ve met have been rich kids. Showing up to a 10-hour shift at a low-wage retail job every day with a smile on your face even though you have medical bills you can’t pay—that’s real self control. Meanwhile it’s rich customer who’s the first to go ballistic because their latte came out cold.
Obviously people are going to behave worse in a less stable environment. But I’d wager those who have had to deal with real hardship function better than the socio-economic well off in a crisis.
There’s good evidence that socioeconomic status correlates positively with Self-Control. There is also good evidence that people with high socioeconomic status live in a more stable environment during childhood. The signals of a stable environment correlating with Self-Control is his speculation as far as I’m aware, but in light of the data it seems plausible.
I agree they would function better in a crisis, but a crisis is a situation where fast response matters more than self-control. In a crisis you will take actions that are probably wrong during stable periods. I would go on to say, as my own speculation, that hardship—as else being equal—make people worse.
“He predicts that unconscious signals of a stable environment will increase self-control, which helps explains why high social-economic status correlates strongly with self-control.”
What evidence is there that this is true? For what anecdotage is worth (which is probably the only evidence there is on the matter), some of the most out-of-control people I’ve met have been rich kids. Showing up to a 10-hour shift at a low-wage retail job every day with a smile on your face even though you have medical bills you can’t pay—that’s real self control. Meanwhile it’s rich customer who’s the first to go ballistic because their latte came out cold.
Obviously people are going to behave worse in a less stable environment. But I’d wager those who have had to deal with real hardship function better than the socio-economic well off in a crisis.
There’s good evidence that socioeconomic status correlates positively with Self-Control. There is also good evidence that people with high socioeconomic status live in a more stable environment during childhood. The signals of a stable environment correlating with Self-Control is his speculation as far as I’m aware, but in light of the data it seems plausible.
I agree they would function better in a crisis, but a crisis is a situation where fast response matters more than self-control. In a crisis you will take actions that are probably wrong during stable periods. I would go on to say, as my own speculation, that hardship—as else being equal—make people worse.