---
title: Thinking Fast and Slow - Thoughts for Friday
description: "BSMPG: Where Leaders Learn"
image: https://www.bsmpg.com/hs-fs/hub/52884/file-436994784.jpg
---

[![BSMPG Logo](https://www.bsmpg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BSMPG_June2016-theme_Images/logo.png?width=570&name=logo.png "BSMPG Logo")](https://www.bsmpg.com/)

# Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group, LLC Blog

## [Thinking Fast and Slow - Thoughts for Friday](https://www.bsmpg.com/Blog/bid/100770/Thinking-Fast-and-Slow-Thoughts-for-Friday)

Posted by Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group on Fri, Jan 10, 2014 @ 07:01 AM

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

 

![Thinking Fast and Slow 2779495](https://www.bsmpg.com/hs-fs/hub/52884/file-436994784.jpg)

 

"Baumeister’s group has repeatedly found that an effort of will or self-control is tiring; if you have had to force yourself to do something, you are less willing or less able to exert self-control when the next challenge comes around. The phenomenon has been named *ego depletion*. In a typical demonstration, participants who are instructed to stifle their emotional reaction to an emotionally charged film will later perform poorly on a test of physical stamina – how long they can maintain a strong grip on a dynamometer in spite of increasing discomfort. The emotional effort in the first phase of the experiment reduces the ability to withstand the pain of sustained muscle contraction, and ego-depleted people therefore succumb more quickly to the urge to quit. In another experiment, people are first depeleted by a task in which they eat virtuous foods such as radishes and celery while resisting the temptation to indulge in chocolate and rich cookies. Later, these people will give up earlier than normal when faced with a difficult cognitive task.

                The list of situations and tasks that are now known to deplete self-control is long and varied. All involve conflict and the need to suppress a natural tendency. They include:

 

                Avoiding the thought of white bears

                Inhibiting the emotional response to a stirring film

                Making a series of choices that involve conflict

                Trying to impress others

                Responding kindly to a partner’s bad behavior

                Interacting with a person of a different race (for prejudiced individuals)

 

The list of indications of depletion is also highly diverse:

               

                Deviating from one’s diet

                Overspending on impulsive purchases

                Reacting aggressively to provocation

               Persisting less time in a handgrip task

               Performing poorly in cognitive tasks and logical decision making

 

The evidence is persuasive: activities that impose high demands on system 2 requires self-control, and the exertion of self-control is depleting and unpleasant. Unlike cognitive load, ego depletion is at least in part a loss of motivation. After exerting self-control in one task, you do not feel like making an effort in another, although you could do it if you really had to."

 

*Source:*

 

Kahneman, Daniel. "The Busy and Depleted System 2." *Thinking, Fast and Slow*. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013. 41-42. Print.

 

 

[![New Call to action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/52884/1a5837d4-1935-499b-b1ce-b17b30a547ae.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/52884/1a5837d4-1935-499b-b1ce-b17b30a547ae)![TMG](https://www.bsmpg.com/hs-fs/hub/52884/file-353775232.jpeg?width=85&height=64&name=file-353775232.jpeg)

 

## [Join the Leaders in Sports Medicine and Performance at the 2014 BSMPG Summer Seminar - May 16 & 17, 2014.](https://www.bsmpg.com/2014-summer-seminar/)

## [Registration is now OPEN.](https://www.bsmpg.com/2014-summer-seminar/)

### Barefoot in Boston now available on Amazon.com

“The residents who live here, according to the parable, began noticing increasing numbers of drowning people caught in the river’s swift current and so went to work inventing ever more elaborate technologies to resuscitate them. So preoccupied were these heroic villagers with rescue and treatment that they never thought to look UPSTREAM to see who was pushing the victims in.”

Learn what is hurting your feet and your performance, and how to finally train your feet the way they were meant to be.[![barefoot in boston](https://www.bsmpg.com/hs-fs/file-5407262-png/images/barefoot.kindle.png)](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=barefoot+in+boston&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Abarefoot+in+boston&ajr=8)

### Follow Me

<http://www.youtube.com/user/bsmpg><https://www.bsmpg.com/CMS/UI/Modules/BizBlogger/rss.aspx?moduleid=113433><https://twitter.com/BSMPG_1>

### Subscribe to BLOG by Email

### Most Popular Posts

### Purchase Charlie Weingroff's DVD HERE!

[![tequalsr2 lr](https://www.bsmpg.com/hs-fs/hub/52884/file-865742913.jpg?width=284&height=115&name=file-865742913.jpg)](http://tequalsr2.com?family=70efdf2ec9b086079795c442636b55fb)

### Browse by Tag

- [achilles pain (7)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/achilles-pain)
- [acute pain (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/acute-pain)
- [Adam Naylor (4)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/adam-naylor)
- [Adriaan Louw (14)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/adriaan-louw)
- [Al Smith (5)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/al-smith)
- [Alan Grodin (23)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/alan-grodin)
- [Alan Stein (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/alan-stein)
- [allen gruver (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/allen-gruver)
- [Andrea Hudy (25)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/andrea-hudy)
- [Andreo Spina (5)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/andreo-spina)
- [Andy O'Brien (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/andy-obrien)
- [ankle problems (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/ankle-problems)
- [Announcements (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/announcements)
- [Art Horne (132)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/art-horne)
- [athletic trainer (17)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/athletic-trainer)
- [athletic training (68)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/athletic-training)
- [athletic training books (23)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/athletic-training-books)
- [athletic training conference (209)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/athletic-training-conference)
- [autonomy (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/autonomy)
- [Barefoot in Boston (40)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/barefoot-in-boston)
- [barefoot running (15)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/barefoot-running)
- [barefoot strength training (21)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/barefoot-strength-training)
- [barefoot training (18)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/barefoot-training)
- [baseball conference (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/baseball-conference)
- [basketball conference (153)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/basketball-conference)
- [basketball performance (70)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/basketball-performance)
- [Basketball Related (37)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/basketball-related)
- [basketball resources (76)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/basketball-resources)
- [basketball seminar (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/basketball-seminar)
- [Basketball Training (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/basketball-training)
- [basketball training programs (84)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/basketball-training-programs)
- [basketball videos (21)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/basketball-videos)
- [Ben Prentiss (14)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/ben-prentiss)
- [Bill Knowles (48)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/bill-knowles)
- [blunder (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/blunder)
- [Bobby Alejo (11)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/bobby-alejo)
- [Boo Schexnayder (10)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/boo-schexnayder)
- [boston hockey conference (119)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/boston-hockey-conference)
- [boston hockey summit (101)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/boston-hockey-summit)
- [boston marathon (4)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/boston-marathon)
- [Boston Promise (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/boston-promise)
- [Brandon Bovee (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/brandon-bovee)
- [Breathing Disorders (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/breathing-disorders)
- [Brendon Ziegler (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/brendon-ziegler)
- [Brian McCormick (5)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/brian-mccormick)
- [Brijesh Patel (11)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/brijesh-patel)
- [Brook Lopez (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/brook-lopez)
- [Bruce Williams (22)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/bruce-williams)
- [BSMPG (79)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/bsmpg)
- [BSMPG baseball conference (6)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/bsmpg-baseball-conference)
- [BSMPG Summar Seminar (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/bsmpg-summar-seminar)
- [BSMPG Summer Seminar (119)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/bsmpg-summer-seminar)
- [Cal Dietz (45)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/cal-dietz)
- [Catapult (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/catapult)
- [Charlie Weingroff (68)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/charlie-weingroff)
- [children's hospital boston (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/childrens-hospital-boston)
- [chris chase (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/chris-chase)
- [Chris Joyce (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/chris-joyce)
- [Chris Powers (12)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/chris-powers)
- [Christopher McDougall (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/christopher-mcdougall)
- [Chronic Pain (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/chronic-pain)
- [Clare Frank (22)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/clare-frank)
- [Cleveland Cavs (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/cleveland-cavs)
- [concussion (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/concussion)
- [concussion management (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/concussion-management)
- [Conditioning-Agility-Speed (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/conditioning-agility-speed)
- [conference video (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/conference-video)
- [Core Stability Training (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/core-stability-training)
- [Craig Liebenson (33)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/craig-liebenson)
- [customer service (28)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/customer-service)
- [Dan Boothby (17)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/dan-boothby)
- [Dan Gilbert (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/dan-gilbert)
- [Daniel Coyle (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/daniel-coyle)
- [Daniel Lieberman (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/daniel-lieberman)
- [Dartfish (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/dartfish)
- [Dave Tenney (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/dave-tenney)
- [deadlift Art Horne (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/deadlift-art-horne)
- [Derek Hansen (6)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/derek-hansen)
- [Derek Hanson (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/derek-hanson)
- [Devan McConnell (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/devan-mcconnell)
- [development (31)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/development)
- [discipline (33)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/discipline)
- [DNS (6)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/dns)
- [DNS course (12)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/dns-course)
- [Don Callahan (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/don-callahan)
- [Dorsiflexion (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/dorsiflexion)
- [Dr. DiMuro (8)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/dr-dimuro)
- [Dunk Shot (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/dunk-shot)
- [dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (5)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/dynamic-neuromuscular-stabilization)
- [Eric Oetter (4)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/eric-oetter)
- [Erik Helland (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/erik-helland)
- [everything basketball (16)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/everything-basketball)
- [evidence based medicine (13)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/evidence-based-medicine)
- [Fascial Distortion Model (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/fascial-distortion-model)
- [FAT-Tool (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/fat-tool)
- [female basketball (4)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/female-basketball)
- [female strength training (7)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/female-strength-training)
- [Fenway Park (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/fenway-park)
- [Fergus Connolly (23)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/fergus-connolly)
- [Flexibility (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/flexibility)
- [flow (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/flow)
- [FMS (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/fms)
- [Food Rules (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/food-rules)
- [foot fracture (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/foot-fracture)
- [foot pain (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/foot-pain)
- [Foot Strike (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/foot-strike)
- [football off-season workouts (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/football-off-season-workouts)
- [functional movement screen (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/functional-movement-screen)
- [Functional Performance Training (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/functional-performance-training)
- [Functional Range Release (4)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/functional-range-release)
- [George Mumford (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/george-mumford)
- [Gerry Ramogida (4)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/gerry-ramogida)
- [Good to Great (43)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/good-to-great)
- [Gray Cook (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/gray-cook)
- [Guest Author (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/guest-author)
- [Health (5)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/health)
- [Health & Wellness (4)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/health-wellness)
- [Hip Hinge (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/hip-hinge)
- [hockey conference (14)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/hockey-conference)
- [hockey DVD (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/hockey-dvd)
- [hockey videos (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/hockey-videos)
- [Human Locomotion (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/human-locomotion)
- [Inigo Mujika (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/inigo-mujika)
- [innercity weightlifting (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/innercity-weightlifting)
- [InsideTracker (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/insidetracker)
- [inspiratory muscle training (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/inspiratory-muscle-training)
- [integrated care (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/integrated-care)
- [iowa football (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/iowa-football)
- [Irene Davis (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/irene-davis)
- [james anderson (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/james-anderson)
- [Jay DeMayo (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/jay-demayo)
- [jay-z (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/jay-z)
- [Jeff Cubos (11)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/jeff-cubos)
- [jerry mcguire (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/jerry-mcguire)
- [Jim Snider (7)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/jim-snider)
- [jj barea (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/jj-barea)
- [Joel Jamieson (12)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/joel-jamieson)
- [John Berardi (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/john-berardi)
- [John DiMuro (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/john-dimuro)
- [john sullivan (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/john-sullivan)
- [john wooden (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/john-wooden)
- [Jonas Sahratian (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/jonas-sahratian)
- [Jose Fernandez (5)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/jose-fernandez)
- [jose juan barea (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/jose-juan-barea)
- [Keiser (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/keiser)
- [Keith D'Amelio (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/keith-damelio)
- [Kettlebell Instruction (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/kettlebell-instruction)
- [Kevin Durant (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/kevin-durant)
- [Kevin Neeld (5)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/kevin-neeld)
- [knee pain (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/knee-pain)
- [Landon Evans (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/landon-evans)
- [Leaders (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/leaders)
- [Leaders in Performance (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/leaders-in-performance)
- [Leadership (30)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/leadership)
- [LeBron James (4)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/lebron-james)
- [Leon Chaitow (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/leon-chaitow)
- [Logan Schwartz (5)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/logan-schwartz)
- [managing (11)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/managing)
- [Marathon Monday (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/marathon-monday)
- [Marc Bubbs (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/marc-bubbs)
- [Marco Cardinale (26)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/marco-cardinale)
- [Mark Cuban (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/mark-cuban)
- [Mark Lindsay (4)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/mark-lindsay)
- [Mark Scappaticci (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/mark-scappaticci)
- [Mark Toomey (6)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/mark-toomey)
- [Marvin Chun (13)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/marvin-chun)
- [mastery (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/mastery)
- [Matt Jordan (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/matt-jordan)
- [mental toughness (7)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/mental-toughness)
- [mental training (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/mental-training)
- [Mike Boyle (5)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/mike-boyle)
- [Mike Curtis (4)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/mike-curtis)
- [Mike Davis (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/mike-davis)
- [Mobility (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/mobility)
- [moneyball (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/moneyball)
- [Mosley (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/mosley)
- [motivation (5)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/motivation)
- [Motor Control (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/motor-control)
- [Motor Learning (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/motor-learning)
- [Movement (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/movement)
- [movement impairments (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/movement-impairments)
- [NBA (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/nba)
- [Neil Rampe (5)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/neil-rampe)
- [networking (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/networking)
- [nike free (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/nike-free)
- [Noraxon (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/noraxon)
- [northeastern (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/northeastern)
- [northeastern university (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/northeastern-university)
- [off season training (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/off-season-training)
- [orthopedic assessment (3)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/orthopedic-assessment)
- [orthopedic risk factors (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/orthopedic-risk-factors)
- [Ownership (16)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/ownership)
- [Pat Riley (5)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/pat-riley)
- [patient centered care (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/patient-centered-care)
- [Patrick Ward (4)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/patrick-ward)
- [Pavel Kolar (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/pavel-kolar)
- [Pavel Tsatsouline (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/pavel-tsatsouline)
- [Perform Better (1)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/perform-better)
- [Performance Directors Meeting (2)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/performance-directors-meeting)
- [performance testing (5)](https://www.bsmpg.com/blog/topic/performance-testing)

© 2020 Boston Sports Medicine and Performance Group, LLC