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International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanity Development

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Self-Control, Emotion Regulation, And Goal Dynamics: An Integrative Theoretical Model Of Cognitive And Motivational Well-Being

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Dr. Alejandro M. RĂ­os 1 ,
4 Department of Psychology, Universidad de Salamanca, Spain

Abstract

Understanding how individuals regulate their thoughts, emotions, and actions in pursuit of valued goals has long been a central concern across psychology, education, and behavioral economics. The present article develops an integrative theoretical account of cognitive and motivational well-being by synthesizing three major traditions represented in the existing literature: the strength model of self-control, self-determination theory–based approaches to emotion regulation, and goal regulation frameworks emphasizing action crises, disengagement, and feedback processes. Drawing exclusively on the provided references, this article advances a comprehensive conceptual model that explains how self-control resources, emotion regulation strategies, and goal-related motivational structures interact dynamically over time to shape well-being, persistence, and adaptive functioning. Particular attention is given to the distinction between integrative and suppressive emotion regulation, the conditions under which self-control succeeds or fails, and the psychological consequences of goal commitment, crisis, and disengagement. In addition, insights from diary methodologies and behavioral economic perspectives on procrastination, willpower, and strategic ignorance are incorporated to enrich the temporal and contextual sensitivity of the model. The article argues that well-being is not merely a function of goal attainment, but rather of how individuals regulate emotions, allocate self-control resources, and respond to feedback when goals become obstructed or misaligned with psychological needs. The discussion highlights theoretical implications for motivation research, addresses limitations inherent in current approaches, and outlines directions for future empirical work. By offering a unified framework, this article aims to deepen conceptual clarity and provide a robust foundation for understanding cognitive well-being as an emergent property of self-regulatory processes embedded in motivational and emotional systems.

Keywords

Self-control, emotion regulation, goal regulation

References

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