Unsure what the future will bring? You may overindulge: Uncertainty increases the appeal of wants over shoulds

This paper examines the effect of uncertainty about the future on whether individuals select want options (e.g., junk foods, lowbrow films) or instead exert self-control and select should options (e.g., healthy foods, highbrow films). Consistent with the ego-depletion literature, which suggests that self-control resembles an exhaustible muscle, coping with uncertainty about what the future may bring reduces self-control resources and increases individuals’ tendency to favor want options over should options. These results persist when real uncertainty is induced, when the salience of naturally-arising uncertainty is heightened and when individuals are able to make choices contingent upon the outcomes of uncertain events. Overall, this work suggests that reducing uncertainty in a decision maker’s environment may have important spillover effects, leading to less impulsive choices.

► I propose that uncertainty causes ego-depletion, reducing self-control resources. ► I show that incidental uncertainty reduces persistence on difficult tasks. ► I show that incidental uncertainty reduces take-up of shoulds over wants. ► I show that depletion mediates the effect of uncertainty on take-up of shoulds. ► Reducing uncertainty in a decision maker’s environment has positive spillover effects.