Theory of the Self: The Cognitive Habits Affecting Regressive Optimism Theory

Procrastination is a product of self-efficacy. Some might say that a person’s productivity

is a basis of his self-esteem; nevertheless, I think that the act of procrastinating does not merely
depend on the person’s self-esteem, rather, there are other factors affecting that.
Procrastination is the action of delaying or postponing something. If a person has known
himself as an active procrastinator, he believes that the task given will be finished on time with
full confidence, for he knows his own capabilities. According to Ferrari, Johnson, and McCown,
there are some major cognitive distortions that lead to procrastination, specifically in the
academic setting. Students who procrastinate tend to overestimate how much time they have
left to perform tasks and how motivated they will be in the future, underestimate how long
certain activities will take to complete, and mistakenly assume that they need to be in the right
frame of mind to work on a project. This is all due to their self-efficacy, that there will be a right
time for them to start working on a task and ideas will come when the deadline is near.

The concept of the self is an idea that incorporates both the past and future aspects of an
individual. In procrastination, the present self gives away the responsibility to the future self for
the present self enjoys pleasure and fun, not minding the burden he might cause to the future
self. On the other hand, if it’s done the other way around, the future self will get a reward for
the hardwork exerted by the present self. The consequences of your action will only affect you. A
person is also someone who considers himself to be the same thing in different times and
different places and our consciousness is what makes possible our belief that we are the same
identity in different times and different places. (J. Locke, The Self is Consciousness).

The Cognitive Habits Affecting Regressive Optimism Theory correlates Self-Efficacy to

the habit of procrastination of a person. This becomes an adaptation strategy to keep up with
the pace of the people in a new environment. This especially happens among college students.
Dessert before dinner is what usually happens to them. Active procrastinators benefit the most
for they tend to stall time because they like the adrenalin rush that comes with working under
pressure.

People who procrastinate are known to be creative, finding different and the most
effective way on finishing the task. There is no right or wrong on getting started with it, as long
as he has technique to submit it before it falls due. However, an organized person who is not in
the same condition as the active procrastinator will have trouble in finishing his task on time for
he is used to doing things according to order as to how it is written down on his checklist.
 The procrastinator shows his false self to people as if he’s very nonchalant with the fact
that the due date is near, and time pressure will never be bothersome to him. This becomes his
own defense mechanism to avoid pressure from colleagues because pressure from other
people affects him more than time pressure. This appears to be a healthy false self for it has a
positive effect on the procrastinator as well as the characteristic being shown to people will be
perceived positively. On the other hand, the real self of the procrastinator is in a state of panic
for he only has a few remaining hours to prepare for her school work. This is when ideas
flourish, or the last minute panic occurs. The Ideal Self of the procrastinator also contributes to
his well-being for it stimulates the motivation of the individual to shoulder the activity to
comply with the characteristics of the Ideal-Self. It sets a standard for the Real-Self to conform
to guidelines in order for him to achieve the Ideal-Self. The Self attains Downward Comparison
with the standards of the Ideal Self which positively affects itself as well.

It seems self-efficacy increase quality of life through adjusting the stress and
vulnerability. Intention of self-efficacy is judgment of an individual about abilities, capacities
and competences in performing the particular tasks (Bandura, 1982). It is on our own decision
whether we are to complicate life or live it simply. However, being able to know one’s
capabilities is a major advantage in striving in life. Life is a gamble and it is our choice whether
to risk or not, but the most powerful action to do is to know how to play the game. Know the
best tactics and strengthen your advantage. Comfort over pain is what the procrastinators
choose. They know their edge among others and enjoy comfort for a long period of time, but
exhaust themselves in only a short period. Procrastinating leads to incompetence, nevertheless,
those who know to play the game still get the most satisfactory life.

The Cognitive Habits Affecting Regressive Optimism Theory further concludes that
success increases Self-Efficacy. That people who procrastinates a lot find strong sense of Self-
Efficacy whenever tasks are finished on time despite having to work on it in only a short period
of time. Due to that success, they tend to procrastinate repetitively when they are required to,
for they have possibly done it amidst of pressure from the environment. Thus, the compliments
they receive for doing a job well done further increases their self-esteem and self-efficacy.

However, the Cognitive Habits Affecting Regressive Optimism Theory suggests that
procrastination still has negative effects to a person for the reason that once a person has been
appointed with loaded tasks, it will be quite hard for the procrastinator to deal with a lot more
task than he has been used to. Working on a task little by little still is the best option in getting a
job done right and more satisfactory.