The desire for control is an extremely powerful motivating factor. Most people are willing to give up control in exchange for a certain amount of choice. This means that if they want something they're willing to sacrifice some of their power to get it. The opposite of this is true, of course. People who have too much choice are not as driven to gain that extra power. The lack of control can lead to a lack of fulfillment and disappointment.
As the study shows, our desires for leisure, sleep, media use, and work often conflict with other goals. According to the limited-resource model of self-control, we exhaust our resources over time when we fail to control our desires. When we feel frustrated because we don't get what we want, we may not be able to resist the temptation to do what we want. Nevertheless, our motivation to engage in those behaviors is likely to increase.
The power of autonomy enables us to exercise our willpower. Our desires for influence are not influenced by other people. We can exert our influence without controlling others. Yet, our desires for autonomy seem to be rooted in our own desires. It is also the case that our desires are largely self-imposed. We cannot choose what we do, because we want to be in control. The only way to gain more autonomy is to give up our willpower.
Interestingly, this study found that people who claim to want power often lack autonomy and control. In other words, they feel frustrated when their confederates don't behave as they expect them to. Moreover, people who are in power don't feel the need for autonomy. They only need to be empowered to act on their own behalf. If they get autonomy, the desire for influence becomes lessened.
The desire for control is an important motivational factor. Studies have shown that people with high levels of desire are more likely to engage in activities they find enjoyable. Similarly, low levels of autonomy can lead to a lack of success. Thus, the power of desire is highly dependent on how individuals feel about it. This study was conducted in two groups. The groups with high need for control expressed their preference for a sense of freedom while those in lower positions felt frustrated.
The study results show that desire for autonomy and power are related. In other words, the higher the autonomy, the higher the desire for control. While the two are not directly related, they are closely linked. This suggests that the desire for control is a powerful motivation factor. However, the study does not identify how these two are interrelated. For instance, the authors state that the autonomy of an individual affects self-control.