The Psychology of Discipline

Our parents have taught us to do certain things in certain ways (“Do your homework only then you will get to go out with your friends,” my mother every weekend). In our school days, we kept our clothes tidy, braided our hair, attended an assembly at an exact time in the morning, and followed the teachers’ strict rules about class etiquette and timings. Discipline is what they call the most important.

Then came our college, where timings weren’t so strict, but examinations and every entrance had the power to decide our future. They called it the most important. Then comes the job, meetings start from the exact timing, and coming late and praying that your boss doesn’t see you is an everyday mission. They emphasize it here as well. So, what is discipline? Training someone to follow rules or face punishment is the art of discipline.

They have taught us this since birth and have emphasized it on every path in our lives. But is it as important as it sounds? Would you become smart Elon Musk like, or have the money like Jeff Bezos? Their strict timetables, steadfast dedication, and tactical preparation demonstrate how they can propel success in a variety of fields. This article is a summary of the psychology of discipline, and in the end, it is for you to decide- do you want to be a rule breaker or an obedient child? 

History of Discipline 

Gaining knowledge about the psychology of discipline can help people achieve their objectives, get past setbacks, and behave consistently. Going back in time…

Psychology students, remember Pavlov and his dog? Ivan Pavlov came up with the concept of Classical conditioning. He trained dogs to salivate when the bell rings, by presenting food at the same time. Hence, people now use this technique to discipline dogs! Ever seen dog owners asking their dogs to “give paw” and then reward them with a treat? 

Then came Thorndike who came up with the law of effect. He put the cat inside puzzle boxes and came up with the concept that when the consequences are satisfying, they are repeated, and when they are not satisfying, they are avoided. This idea became a foundation for later theories on it.

And enters our Skinner box- mouse in a box explored, and found a button that when pressed at certain time intervals, gave food. Hence, this concept as he called it “operant conditioning” paves the way for discipline again.

Even if you don’t know Bandura, his Bobo doll experiments are world-famous. Observation led to shaping one’s behaviour accordingly. So children mimicked the violent behavior of hitting the Bobo doll when adults rewarded them for it. It suggested that it is not only about punishment or reward but also about the behaviour children observe.

Now, coming to a little more controversial experiments…

What if I put you in with strangers inside a prison set, and ask you to role-play as a prisoner, while others as the jailers? Philip Zimbardo did exactly this, and found that the guards became abusive meanwhile the prisoners became submissive or rebellious. This led to illustrating the impact of authority on it and behaviour within hierarchical structures.

Milgram was another pioneer. He asked his participants to act as teachers and give shock to the “learners” (there was no shock- just an actor) when answered the question wrong. The study showed that it enforced by authority could lead to extreme compliance, even at the cost of morality.

Now, let us get a bit lighter towards this topic. The marshmallow experiment (is as cute as it sounds), involved children to either wait for 15 minutes and get two marshmallows, or eat only one marshmallow on the spot. This study showed that when gratification is delayed, it leads to more success- due to components like higher self-discipline and patience. 

When examined discipline in the aspect of competition, it proves to be very effective. Barrish, Saunders, & Wolf conducted the good behaviour experiment, where students were divided into teams, and rewards were given to teams that met behavioural expectations. These experiments happened between the 1890s to the 1970s. But numbers aren’t so interesting, are they? But what is the point of these experiments? 

Discipline: A Must in Life?

From personal growth to academic and professional success, discipline is very important in life (it is not just me who says this):

Research has found academic success when an individual is highly disciplined. A study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology found that self-discipline was a stronger predictor of academic performance compared to IQ tests. Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Prize laureate, went to school even in the face of adversity and is a prime example of discipline in education.

To all the gym-goers and athletes, research has shown the benefits of discipline in this arena as well. People know Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest footballers of all time, for his exceptional discipline. His training program, strict diet, and his commitment to fitness have let him stay fit even in his late 30s. A study in the Journal of Health Psychology found that discipline in exercise routines is essential for long-term fitness success.

Coming to another important discipline, financial success- a lot of research points out how impulse spending, saving, financial literacy, and budgeting require a lot of discipline, and hence greater success. Known for living modestly and sticking to his long-term investment principles, Warren Buffett’s financial discipline has been a major contributing factor. 

Lastly, knowing psychology, how can we forget mental health and wellness? Your mental health is significantly impacted due to factors like sleep, nutrition, and exercise. For example, a study published in Psychosomatic Medicine showed that disciplined routines, such as regular sleep and exercise, are associated with lower levels of stress and anxiety. 

Now, coming to career growth, hiding from your boss when coming late is not a good sign. Work ethic, punctuality, meeting deadlines, and so on all contribute to having high self-discipline. Research from the Harvard Business Review indicated that self-discipline is a key trait among successful leaders like Satya Nadella, Oprah Winfrey, etc. 

It can take many different forms in real life, such as following a strict study schedule or eating a well-balanced diet.

Psychology Behind Discipline

Now, since we know the importance of being disciplined, what is the psychology behind it? Psychology is the study of mental processes and behaviour, and when specifically looking at discipline, concepts like:

• Self-control: Can you manage your emotions, temptations, and impulses?
• Reinforcement: Are you rewarded when you show remarkable discipline? 
• No cognitive dissonance: Do all your actions align with your goals and values?
• Habituation: Are you aware of the “cue-routine-reward” loop? Do you follow the same?
• Intrinsic motivation: Do you need rewards to be motivated or are you motivated from within? 
• Will power: Do you have the ability to overcome short-term temptations to achieve long-term goals?
• Delayed gratification: Can you delay your reward at present, to achieve a bigger, better reward in the future?
• Executive functions: They are cognitive processes that help individuals to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and manage multiple tasks. 

All these contribute towards having a highly self-disciplined life. Each has an important part to play and specifies certain behaviours that can help become even more self-disciplined. 

Would that make you Successful?

Where Steve Jobs was known for having a disciplined approach to product design and innovation, Elon Musk’s relentless work ethic, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s early morning workouts, strict diets, and relentless work schedule, LeBron James spending $1M on trainers, nutritionists, and recovery methods, making him a consistent player; these are all not just examples but people who have exceptionally grown in their fields and have a very disciplined routine. Hence, it is not just about having generational wealth or depending on luck—people notice it as a factor in most of their lives.

But does it have any biological basis?

Yes! Various brain structures, neural processes, and neurotransmitters are linked to it. The prefrontal cortex, located at the front of the brain, is crucial for executive functions. Studies show that a well-developed cortex is better at delaying gratification, managing impulses, and adhering to routines. Remember Dopamine? The hormone that every psychology student craves?

A neurotransmitter associated with motivation, reward, and pleasure plays a significant role in the brain’s reward system. Imbalances in dopamine can lead to difficulty maintaining it. Studies have shown that individuals who can manage stress effectively are better able to maintain discipline.

Low serotonin levels are associated with impulsive behaviour, aggression, and difficulties in exercising self-control. Hence, it is not just your behaviour that reflects discipline, it is an entire cycle of biological processes that might also contribute towards having discipline. 

Then how to not be lazy?

Psychology can help you, but you need to take the initiative and put in some effort. Developing routines, establishing specific objectives, and adhering to them are all part of developing more discipline. Hence, some ways in which you can become disciplined are:

1. Set clear goals and stay focused: Remember SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) goals. Hence, a significant way to have short-term and long-term goals and be consistent to achieve them. In “Chak De India!”, the film! By establishing clear goals, implementing stringent training schedules, and emphasising teamwork, Kabir instils discipline in his group of women hockey players. The group succeeds because of their dedication to their objectives. Make a concentrated plan to attain your goals and identify them to develop greater discipline.
2. Stay True to Your Values: Wherever you are, whatever you do, stay focused on your goal and true to your values. Don’t let distractions make you focus on the wrong things. But are there any contrasting views? But is every study out that proves discipline is not that important also? Studies have explored alternative options rather than directly opposing discipline. Hence, these lead to dilemmatic situations where the choice becomes hard. 
3. Develop consistent habits: All the successful people mentioned above didn’t succeed overnight. It is their hard work and strict routines that helped them achieve the same. Hence, habituation, especially those of positive habits should be made and followed. Remember Jeetu Bhaiya from the show “Kota Factory”? As he always said, it takes 21 days to form a habit, get inspired! 
4. Discipline as a Necessity vs. Discipline as a Constraint: Workplaces and many conventional educational institutions place a strong emphasis on discipline as a prerequisite for success and output. However, entrepreneurs and creative types frequently support adaptable settings where novel concepts can thrive in the absence of strict guidelines.
5. Discipline Through External Control vs. Internal Motivation: Many traditional educational systems use grades and penalties as common tools to ensure student behaviour. However, creative professions or independent contractors may prosper more from internal motivation and personal enthusiasm than from external enforcement.
6. Learn from Failure and Keep Going: The movie “Lakshya” by Hrithik Roshan is a great example. Karan’s transformation is fueled by his failures and determination to improve. Discipline often involves learning from setbacks and persisting despite challenges. When you face obstacles, use them as learning experiences to refine your discipline.
7. Embrace Sacrifices for Long-Term Gains: Every NEET/ JEE/ UGC NET aspirant you might come across will tell you the sacrifices they have made to achieve the desired score and rank. It is not about asking you to not enjoy life, but make sacrifices to achieve your goal and don’t let certain activities distract you from the same.
8. Surround Yourself with the Right Influences: Surrounding yourself with supportive friends and mentors can help you stay disciplined while maintaining balance in your life. For example, Sid from “Wake Up Side!” had Aisha by her side who taught him not just to party but to bear the responsibilities and build discipline in life. 
9. Discipline for Achievement vs. Discipline for Well-being: High achievers in competitive fields often emphasize rigorous discipline to attain their professional goals. But, wellness practices like regular exercise, meditation, and balanced nutrition are forms of discipline that prioritize health over productivity.
10. Short-Term Discipline vs. Long-Term Discipline: When dieting for a big event, you may need to follow stringent food guidelines and practise short-term discipline. But also establishing a lifelong fitness regimen necessitates consistent dedication over time as well as small tweaks.
11. Strict Discipline vs. Flexible Discipline: Business settings and military training emphasize strict discipline to uphold order and accomplish goals. However, to accommodate a wide range of professionals, corporations are removing hierarchies and adopting a flat hierarchy.

Hence when to choose which and what becomes a tough question. These divergent perspectives on discipline show that, although discipline is vital, its application and results can differ substantially based on the situation, the individual’s values, and their objectives. Hence, this emphasizes that each individual is unique, and we need to use different methods to tailor their quest to become more disciplined. For example, imagine Priya and Raj- both are going to the gym every day:

This comparative illustration shows that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to discipline. Every individual’s approach is shaped by their values, aspirations, and interests. Because everyone manages their habits and goals differently, discipline’s effectiveness varies as well.

This paper emphasises how discipline affects our behaviour, choices, and achievement at the end through historical psychology tests and real-world situations. It provides a thorough understanding of the interactions between behavioural, psychological, and biological aspects to provide insight into how discipline functions within us.

The psychology of discipline, which is based on desire, self-control, and willpower, shows that discipline has biological and cognitive roots in addition to being a social construct. However, discipline is about striking a balance that fits your values, goals, and situation, and it is not about blindly adhering to the rules. While discipline may not ensure success, it certainly gives you the means to pursue it. So, is discipline as important as people say it is? Based on available data, it appears to be a significant component in living a prosperous and satisfying life. As with anything else, though, the choice of how to use it is yours. So, after reading so much about it, would you want to become disciplined?