Autoregulation

The term self-regulation refers to self- reflection based skills that are necessary to influence their own thoughts, feelings, motives and actions targeted. It is often used as a synonym for Volition or will power. The principle of self-regulation was developed from the paradigms of homeostasis and Cybernetics, among others, by Frederick Kanfer, Karoly and Paul Albert Bandura in the 1970s. In contrast to the control, regulation, the term adaptive systems that adapt through feedback to changing conditions and in spite of these " disorders" (target - actual variances ) can reach their ( self-imposed ) target.

Biology

The basic idea of self-regulation is borrowed from biology and is regarded as a basic operating principle of living organisms. She finds, for example, in the physiology of the human and animal body continuously held, usually when changing static states and of us unnoticed. Examples are:

• Increases in blood pressure and heart rate when changing from in standing position
• Increased breathing during physical effort to supply the body with more oxygen
• When hypoglycemia ( low blood sugar ), the body is drastic self-regulation mechanisms in place (eg, release of adrenaline, with the result of trembling and profuse sweating ) to maintain the glucose concentration and prevent an impending hypoglycemic shock.

Physiology and Psychology

The basic principle of the scheme ( compared to control) based on the feedback of the deviation of the setpoint from the actual value, so that the system can achieve the controlled target. Rainer jack and co-authors illustrate this connection by the following example: With control that is meant, what does a sailor when he steers the ship in the direction in which the destination is located. This is only in the unrealistic case possible, where no interfering obstacles, currents and changes in wind directions occur. Rather, the captain has repeatedly compare the actual with the desired position, thus correcting the course. This addition to the control by feedback of the achievements is called regulation. If the specification of the desired value from the outside, the system must adapt by a change in behavior, it needs to learn. Another form of learning occurs when systems derive their setpoints from changes in the environment. They need a memory or a memory for experiences, which they use for future behavior. Thus, according to Eran stomach and James Gross, the term self-regulation would provide the skills

Examples of the practical application of this principle to human behavior are the concepts of Volition in psychology and management (see Volition (psychology ) and Volition (Management) ).

Model of self-regulation by Kanfer

Frederick Kanfer believes that self-regulation always sets in when a person wants to achieve a goal and obstacles arise in this way, or if a usual behavior of flow is interrupted. In both cases, the person directs his attention to his behavior. 37-38. The main components of the self-regulation model according to Kanfer are: p.38

• Self-observation ( information about one's actions to be obtained )
• Self-evaluation ( comparison of this information with general standards)
• Self-reinforcement ( contingency, positive or negative consequences).

This process can be repeated several times until a reaction corresponds to the personal standards.

This - originally linear - model has been revised several times since 1970. There feedback loops were introduced (comparison of reaction, consequences and situation with standards and previous experience ), so it is no longer a purely sequential model. In addition, the role of attribution processes ( that is, the judgment of the person if the problem can be influenced by their behavior at all) as well as by expectations and fears (anticipation ) with berücksichtigt.S. 37-41.

A special case of self-regulation is self-regulation. This is applied by Kanfer, when it comes to behavioral alternatives that are conflictual for the person, and they - without external pressure - the behavior of the alternative with lower probability of occurrence selected ( eg refusing a cigarette despite desire ). Here, a personality trait ( " willpower " ) is not described, but a specific behavior in a particular situation. In the initiation and the maintenance of behavior, however, both internal aspects (such as motivation, physical factors ) and environmental factors (eg, social norms ) play a major Rolle.S. 41-43.

The model of self-regulation is an important theoretical basis of self- management Therapie.S developed by Kanfer. 43

Education

Self-regulation is a term that in the pedagogy of the 1970s played a central role (Gerhard Bott: Education for disobedience (film, 1969); terror from the Children's Shop (film, 1972); AS Neill: Anti Authoritarian Parenting the example Alexander S. Neill's Summerhill ). The concept implied that children develop by parents to socially acceptable individual without significant effects. Parents are only responsible when it comes to the protection of the child. Authority, however, which takes education into their own hands, is no longer relevant or undesirable, as children develop freely and independently to the individual or to find out for themselves how they find their way in the world. Even social rules are formulated in group processes and without the influence of parents. The parents should or should not appear as the one who controls the educational processes and sets the objectives.

Examples of this form of education were the " children shops " were recordings facilities, the children usually 3-6 years of age. Children shops were mostly registered parents' associations, who developed the educational concepts together with the teachers working there.