The Effect Of An Abstract Mindset On Self-Control Is Moderated By The Level Of ADHD Symptoms

Objective: Construal level theory (CLT) posits that an event or an object can be represented at numerous levels of abstraction, and that level of construal informs judgment and decision making. High-level construal entails abstract and decontextualized conceptualizations of information, while low-level construal consist of concrete, subordinate, incidental features. High-level construal has been shown to enhance self-control. Given that lack of self-control is a core component in ADHD, we tested whether ADHD-related impulsivity might be due to deficient sensitivity to high-level contextual cues.
Method: 128 adult participants (mean age 30.5 years) completed a construal level priming task. Half were primed for high construal and the rest for low construal level. Participants’ preference for immediate and delayed rewards, on a temporal discounting task, was tested as a measure of self-control. Participants completed the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale.
Results: High-level construal priming improved self-control only for subjects with low level of ADHD symptoms – an effect linked to hyperactivity/impulsivity rather than inattention.
Conclusions: We provide initial evidence that ADHD-related self-control deficits may be due to a failure to construe decisions in high level and abstract ways.