The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It

by Kelly McGonigal

And if you’re lucky enough to find a mate, you’re now expected to bond for life, not just frolic once behind a bush.

While I get the point, we don't know the mating patterns of early humans.

Most people don’t question their impulses when they’re feeling virtuous, and some people’s positions permanently remind them of their virtue.

That is very interesting, and might explain why many athiests often behave more ethically than many religious people.

And if the only thing motivating your self-control is the desire to be a good enough person, you’re going to give in whenever you’re already feeling good about yourself.

When we’re on our best behavior, humans’ ability to control our impulses puts other species to shame. But all too often, we use our fancy brains not to make the most strategic decisions, but to give ourselves permission to act more irrationally. That’s because a big prefrontal cortex is good at more than self-control.