Self-requests yield more compliance than self-commands, even when it pertains to directing our own actions.
Taking charge of our lives feels empowering, and even the smallest hint of a bossy tone can make us bristle. It's like a reflex, and it seems that this instinctual resistance even applies when the order comes from none other than ourselves. Psychologist Ibrahim Senay from the University of Illinois delved into this phenomenon, showing that a simple tweak to the way we phrase things can significantly elevate our motivation and performance.
In a series of experiments, Senay demonstrated the power of asking ourselves whether we'll do something instead of just telling ourselves to do it. Even a seemingly minor switch in word order, such as "Will I" versus "I will," can make a noticeable difference in our drive to carry out a task. In fact, therapists and managers are often taught to encourage people to think critically about problems and decisions on their own rather than handing them solutions. Senay's research suggests that this self-inquiry approach could be equally useful when we're managing or counseling ourselves. Pondering our actions and motivations helps us feel in control and increases our chances of success.
In one of Senay's experiments, he tested this theory on 53 psychology students by asking them to accomplish an anagram puzzle. Prior to starting, they were asked to spend a minute either thinking about whether they would tackle the task or simply that they would. Those who pondered whether they would ended up with higher scores than their counterparts who just decided to do it.
In another experiment, Senay achieved similar results without any explicit instructions. Under the guise of a handwriting study, he asked 50 students to practice writing various phrases like "I will," "Will I," "I," or "Will." After repeating the phrases 20 times, they were given anagram puzzles to complete. Predictably, those who wrote "Will I" solved nearly twice as many anagrams as those in the other groups. None of the students caught on to the experiment's real purpose.
Finally, Senay asked another group of 56 students to write one of the two phrases 20 times and then rated their intentions to start exercising regularly or continue their current exercise regimen. They also had to rank 12 reasons for exercising according to their relevance. Once again, the simple switch in word order had a meaningful impact. Those who wrote "Will I" were more likely to express the intent to exercise, and the increased motivation appeared to stem from an inner drive rather than external factors like feelings of guilt or shame.
This isn't the first study to highlight the impact of subtle linguistic shifts on our thoughts and actions. Last year, William Hart and Dolores Albarracín, who also worked with Senay, discovered that people are more likely to repeat an action if they describe it in the imperfect tense (e.g., "I was exercising") than the perfect tense (e.g., "I exercised"). The imperfect tense keeps the action ongoing and less definitive, which might make people more inclined to repeat it.
Senay's research provides a fascinating glimpse into the power of self-inquiry and the value of asking ourselves the right questions. He is now planning to expand his study, investigating whether other verbs like "can," "should," or "would" can affect our behavior in a similar way. Senay is also curious about the impact of speaking in an active versus passive voice, as these findings could have implications for a range of fields, including psychology and science communications.
Senay's work is a testimony to the effect of grammar on the human mind, and it underlines the importance of introspection and self-reflection. So next time you find yourself grappling with a task or decision, take a moment to ponder whether you will take action. You might be surprised by the boost in motivation it can provide.
- By asking ourselves whether we'll engage in activities related to nature, climate, health, education-and-self-development, personal-growth, or mindfulness instead of just telling ourselves to do so, we might find a noticeable increase in our motivation and performance.
- According to psychologist Ibrahim Senay, the self-inquiry approach could potentially be beneficial when we're managing or counseling ourselves, as it helps us feel in control and increases our chances of success in areas such as personal growth and mindfulness.
- In Senay's experiments, the simple switch in word order, such as "Will I exercise" versus "I will exercise," appeared to have a meaningful impact on the intent to exercise regularly, suggesting that grammar might play a significant role in self-motivation for activities like personal growth and self-development.
