Self-regulation theory
Also known as: Control theory of self-regulation
We steer our own behavior by comparing where we are to a goal and acting to close the gap, like a thermostat.
What it means
Self-regulation theory frames goal pursuit as a negative-feedback loop: a person holds a reference standard (the goal), monitors their current state, detects the discrepancy, and acts to reduce it, then re-checks — the cybernetic 'test-operate-test-exit' cycle. Effective self-regulation therefore requires clear standards, accurate self-monitoring, and the capacity to act on feedback; failures trace to vague goals, poor monitoring, or depleted control. Higher-order loops set the goals that lower-order loops pursue, which is why identity and values shape day-to-day effort. The account unifies many behavior-change techniques (goal-setting, self-monitoring, feedback) under one mechanism. Its nuance is that emotion tracks the rate of progress, not just the gap, explaining why fast improvement feels good even when far from the goal. It matters because it tells designers exactly what to supply: a standard, a mirror, and a lever.
Examples
A weight-loss app embodies the loop — a target weight (standard), a daily scale and food log (monitoring), and prompts that nudge action when the gap widens (operate).
A language app supplies all three parts: a daily goal, a streak counter showing exactly where you stand, and a reminder that fires the moment you fall behind.
In-home energy displays help households cut usage by adding the missing mirror — the standard (a bill to beat) and the lever (the thermostat) were already there.
First described in Carver & Scheier (1981); rooted in cybernetics.