Self-control and academic performance: Two field studies on university citizenship behavior and counterproductive academic behavior

Self-control affects, among other things, individuals’ performance and criminal or deviant behavior. Herein, the construct of self-control is linked to rather specific criteria in an academic context, as derived from findings in the area of organizational psychology. Specifically, it is assumed that students’ self-control impacts university citizenship behavior positively and counterproductive academic behavior negatively. Two correlative field studies, at which one is predictive, using different questionnaires to assess self-control support both hypotheses.

Research Highlights► Self-control affects performance criteria in an academic context. ► Self-control affects university citizenship behavior and counterproductive academic behavior. ► Two correlative field studies support both conjectures.