Almost everyone in the modern world has heard of the term self-control, a seemingly unimportant or uninteresting topic of interest. However, self-control has been correlated with having one of the most significant impacts on a person. Even some have gone so far as to say that self-control is the “greatest predictor of a satisfying and successful life” (Pinker 1), which are bold words for a topic that many simply ignore. The idea of ​​self-control is a concept coined in the Victorian era and appears immensely throughout the novel Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength, written by RF Baumeister and J. Tierney. Essentially a self-help book, "Willpower" provides explanations for why humans do the things they do and why people are not always as virtuous as one would expect them to be. Self-control influences many aspects of a person's life, and by looking at how it is presented in psychology and in Baumeister and Tierney's novel, Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength, you will see the correlations and differences between modern research and perspectives. historical. about the idea of ​​self-control and ultimately decide whether the idea of ​​self-control is an intrinsic trait or a learned condition. Self-control is a frequently discussed topic and concept in the psychological world. Some believe that self-control is an innate characteristic of humankind, while others, like Baumeister, believe that it is a characteristic that can be practiced and strengthened. Baumeister's model of willpower describes self-control as a muscle that can be weakened and regenerated, just like any other muscle in the body. What exactly is self-control? Well, Freud was a psychologist who believed that personality was a biological component of oneself,...... middle of paper...... Virtue, personality and social relationships: self-control as a moral muscle. " Journal of Personality 67.6 (1999): 1165-194. Print. Davis, Doug. “A Glossary of Freudian Terminology.” A Freud Glossary. Web. April 3, 2012. .Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster. Web. April 17 2012. Pinker, Steven. “The Secret of Self-Control.” NY Times, September-October 2011. Web. March 4, 2012. "The Science of Self-Control." com: The Science of Self-Control (9780674013575): Howard Rachlin: Books April 17, 2012. "Self-Control in Society, the Mind, and the Brain".. 2012. .