eli5 What are some of the scientific methods for self discipline ?

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Is there a science behind discipline can anyone explain the bio chemistry behind a disciplined mind and if there are any strategies to achieve it ?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

I can’t explain the bio chemistry but I found it helpful to keep on mind that making good decisions is a finite resource. So schedule important things that require discipline as early in the day as possible. Or make them a habit (a Leads to be Leads to c) so you don’t have to actively think about it whether to do it or not.

Anonymous 0 Comments

I’m not exactly sure how you define discipline, as that isn’t really a definable concept scientifically, but my best answer is probably rooted in psychology, particularly behavioral and learning theories. There are many theories related to behaviorism and learning (such as B.F. Skinner’s theories on operant and classical conditioning, Asch’s theories on conformity, Zimbardo’s theories on obedience and authority, etc) but many of the theories come down to this: if you repeat a behavior and/or are rewarded in some way for a particular behavior (or punished for the opposite), you are more likely to behave that way more often.

So let’s say your desired outcome is you want to be on time more often and be disciplined in your timelinesses. When you are on time for work, class, or other functions, you are rewarded in that people consider you reliable, you get positive performance evaluations at work that help you get raises and promotions, and rewards like that make you want to be on time more for the good things it gets you. On the flip side, when you are late, people are disappointed and annoyed at you, you get written up at work, and you get detentions or grade reductions at school. These are punishments and make it less attractive to you to be late, so you try to be on time more.

Let’s try another example. Say you want to go to the gym more. You could be persuaded to do so by seeing that you get in better shape when you work out, but that takes so long, it may not be effective in the beginning. So maybe you reward yourself. If you go to the gym for an hour 3 days a week, you’ll let yourself watch a few episodes of your favorite show at the end of the week or do something else you enjoy. If you don’t meet that goal, you don’t allow yourself that activity you want to do. Or maybe you say if you are able to lift a certain amount of weight, you’ll buy yourself an expensive gift.

So according to social psychology, you can make yourself engage more consistently in behaviors you want for yourself by rewarding yourself for doing them and consistently repeating them. Or, you can get the assistance of an authority figure (like a coach, teacher, parent, or mentor) to enforce you engaging in those behaviors more. But the conditioning is far more consistent and not to mention nicer to yourself.