Excellent research. I really like what he said. I don't see the relationship to ADHD commented on by others. The speaker seemed to be talking more about what the science was able to prove and wasn't talking about ADHD in particular. I really enjoyed the talk.
I think this pertains to ADHD because the more choices one has the less self control. ADHD children have a hard time focusing and other things. If they don't have to choose what to wear and what to eat and other things they can spend more time focusing and choosing to do school work.
By far most constructive recent science I can think of, still, even though he says willpower is limited, I think something needs to be said about taking it too far. There is ancient wisdom to many of our impulses. I suspect the happy medium,as usual, is the way to go, the middle way between the extremes of complete self-control and totally letting go may be wisest path. Exactly what this would mean in practice I'm not at all sure but it is very interesting to think about. Also seems to me willpower, self control/regulation can mean opposite things: responsibly limiting yourself on the one hand, but most people probably would say a very rich or powerful person, or a great mountain climber, got to the top from exceptional willpower. It seems arguable that while this is probably true in ways but they may have a power, money or glory addiction, in other words an utter lack of self control in certain respects. Seems to me this confusion needs to be addressed. Cheers
I’d love to see how people that use David Allen’s getting things done method score on self control tests. Storing all your choices and things to do in your mind makes you really inefficient.
When Baumeister said that people who do fasting don't have better self control due to depleted glucose, isn't he missing that perhaps the link to that is due to ketone production from the breakdown of fat, which would supply the brain with the energy it needs to maintain will power?
VOLightPortal I'm also interested in that. If ketones are as effective as glucose for self-control management, then MCT oil (or coconut oil) should boost self-control in people who have insulin sensitivity. AFAIR, full ketosis is not achieved for several days, even if you eat nothing.
Liamthegreat2008 If that would be the case then you would die after several days without food. Brain can and does use ketones for energy when they are available. Fat can't be converted to glucose, only protein can. Some cells (like red blood cells) don't have mitochondria, so they can't use ketones for energy production. They depend on steady levels of glucose in the blood. When you stop consuming food only sources of glucose for those cells become amino acids, which come from protein. Protein is very valuable, because breaking it down means cannibalizing muscles, tissues and eventually organs. This is why other cells shift to fat burning to preserve protein, neurons included.
Most of this is excellent, but it's hard to stomach the opinions about ADHD he states in the question section. Why so much compassion and understanding for diabetes, and so little for people with ADHD?
