"Across all experiments, individuals with high self-control were seen as more powerful, and as better suited for powerful roles, than individuals with low self-control."
Part of me sees this research as "doing everything by the book" and consequently failing to capture important insights. For instance, every economic model of humans assumes that we're "rational agents", yet we know that people with poor impulse control (like ElMo, Trump, etc.) are perceived as powerful by a wide swath of the public.
Maybe their "turns down dessert" thought experiments are just that -- thought experiments -- and do not reflect what humans actually do, IRL.
Luck is a huge factor in your starting point. It's significantly harder to become a millionaire if your starting point is a group home in a poor country. An unlimited amount of persistence can't overcome those odds.
That is attacking a straw man. Discussion is about self control not things outside of ones control.
I am also not talking about becoming a millionaire.
I am talking about simple things like getting a decent job. If I sent 2 CVs out and gave up can I compare with someone who sent 100 CVs out and got the job? Can I say "he just got lucky"?
I think people like ElMo and Trump do have a lot of self control. In addition to getting what they want they are also masters of influence. It is also not poor impulse control if they are good enough to muster enough resources to afford their impulses in the first place.
How is this different from “it’s not poor impulse control if you’re a _functional_ alcoholic who can muster enough resources to afford a handle every morning”?
It depends on the motive, if the person is highly motivated to indulge in hedonistic pleasure and alcohol gives him that, well he is achieving his objective. Where as person wants to experience some love/friendship and can't get it and he is using alcohol as a mask you know where to put him.
Trump and Elon Musk have incredible self control. They have selective outlets, yes. But they also both drive themselves constantly, invariably in the face of resistance. They're both self control addicts whose entire lives are built around the question "How much resistance can I overcome?"
I think you are missing the point. Self control is a source of persistence to get to goal. If you are impulsive buyer of random crap, you will not save money for a house.
If you give up easily or get distracted accomplishing difficult tasks will be impossible.
We all know those people and at least to me they always feel like bit of looser who openly jeopardise their own future.
Trumps of this world only impress naive people of this world, people who buy how to make $1m in a year books.
Trump openly employs wrestling narrative building to win popularity. It doesn't get any basic than that (i am generalising avg trump voter of course, but a man who never worked a day of hard work in his life - is a hero of blue collar, cheated on every single of his 5 wives - christian hero and maybe eveb second coming, all his businesses went bust - a true successful businessmen)
Would you trust trump to run your company? or oversee anything of value?
Part of me sees this research as "doing everything by the book" and consequently failing to capture important insights. For instance, every economic model of humans assumes that we're "rational agents", yet we know that people with poor impulse control (like ElMo, Trump, etc.) are perceived as powerful by a wide swath of the public.
Maybe their "turns down dessert" thought experiments are just that -- thought experiments -- and do not reflect what humans actually do, IRL.