What characteristics exemplify a disciplined person?

September 13, 2011 6:54 AM

What characteristics exemplify a disciplined person?

I'm looking to add to the lists below. While I am interested in the technical (specific systems like GTD), I am more interested in the psychological/social (character traits, mindsets, more general best practices / strategies). Consider this a sort of personal development Lit Review.
I know that this is not the first time discipline has been asked about in some way

Behaviors and Practices of the Disciplined

• Practicing a craft in the most deliberate and self-critical way (as discussed in the Talent Code)
• Delaying Gratification by allocating attention elsewhere (as hypothesized in the Stanford Marshmallow test)
• Using and referring to a day-planner
• Sending thank you notes in a timely fashion
• Creating systems for tracking and following through on commitments.

Relevant books, articles, or scholarly works

• Sections of the Social Animal by David Brooks
• Switch by Chip Heath
• Nudge by Rich Thaler

Relevant Search Terms

• Grit: the tendency to pursue long-term challenging goals with perseverance and passion
• Mindsight: buzz word for seeing yourself from outside of yourself
• Self-Regulation: controlling urges
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (possibly too big)

posted by jander03 to education (10 answers total)

Having good habits: exercise, tooth cleaning, flossing, eating.
posted by bq at 7:03 AM on September 13, 2011

I always think of Ben Franklin's 13 virtues, which he tracked daily to ensure he adhered to his standards. He thought deeply about the virtues; strove to achieve them; and kept a record of his failures. I don't think one needs more than his example. Fuck yeah, Ben Franklin!
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:04 AM on September 13, 2011 [14 favorites]

Not sure what those lists are for, but my first thought on "Behaviors and Practices of the Disciplined" was to also list things disciplined people DON'T do (e.g. answering questions all day on mefi while avoiding work). Also, I always like "common myths" when working up lists. Looking at things both ways can help with learning, me thinks.
posted by Blake at 7:08 AM on September 13, 2011 [2 favorites]

There are no disciplined persons. There are persons acting in a disciplined manner more often than others.

This is an important distinction, because to me, I am acting disciplined when I'm aware of what's going on me and around me, minimizing distractions and being aware of fears that cause me to procrastinate or cut corners.

Best to pay attention to things getting in the way of you being disciplined right now, rather than trying to acquire features that might "make" you disciplined by virtue of you possessing them. One approach runs away from the problem at hand, the other addresses it head on. Getting Things Done works because it provides you with a framework for the type of mindfulness that makes you productive and attentive to detail.
posted by Ironmouth at 7:25 AM on September 13, 2011 [4 favorites]

I've just started reading The Upside of Irrationality by Dan Ariely, so I can't comment on the whole book, but at least in the beginning he gives a fascinating account of how he was able to be the only patient in a group (which was being monitored/studied by researchers) who successfully completed a medication regimen to treat his burns. The medication had wretched side-effects, so everyone else failed. Oddly, he says his secret was very simple: watching a movie every time he took the medication. He conditioned himself to expect a predictable reward, and this gave him the willpower to fulfill his very unpleasant obligation.
posted by John Cohen at 8:35 AM on September 13, 2011 [2 favorites]

I am a big fan of this guy's blog. Straight shooting without all new agey crap.

I also had this article recommended to me on a recent AskMe of mine which I found very helpful.
posted by TheOtherGuy at 8:44 AM on September 13, 2011 [2 favorites]

bq has a very good point. "Take care of yourself" is one maxim that the truly disciplined will (for example) never subvert in order to appear disciplined to other people.

A lot of people who don't consider themselves disciplined have yet to learn that. They want to work all day and night but end up on a roller coaster.

You have to create space to take care of yourself in order to capture the sort of constancy that tells you you are truly disciplined.
posted by circular at 9:00 AM on September 13, 2011 [2 favorites]

I appreciate the thoughts so far! Keep 'em coming!

I am especially seeking to find research that suggests what "things"separate the a person who appears discipline from someone who doesn't and how malleable those things are.

The Stanford Marshmallow test, for example, suggests that learning to divert your attention away from your temptation (by singing yourself a song, maybe) is an idea that comes naturally to some 4-year-olds but can be taught to others.

Interested in the ideas and readings so far. I might also try to draft a myths list like Blake suggests.
posted by jander03 at 9:51 AM on September 13, 2011

I have my doubts about the Stanford Marshmallow test. Possibly there might be a correlation or even causation between growing up in an environment where promises of something later is less reliable (and thus going for the immediate reward a logical choice) and life outcomes.

Haven't read the paper though, perhaps they have managed to control for that.

For more general search terms: executive function, metacognitive strategies, self regulation, goal orientation. For behaviors and practices, the military is renowned for instilling disciplined behavior.
posted by yohko at 11:03 AM on September 13, 2011

There are a couple more references to delayed gratification experiments here. If you follow up on those leads you'll find a rich collection of research on the subject.

Note though, that you sort of have to determine whether you're talking about discipline to do things that are desirable to you or discipline to do things that are generally desirable, etc.

I would also take a look at tools that are handed out like candy in CBT and other types of therapy sessions. The person who is taught to "put a handle on that task before you put it down" may be more likely to follow through, since they've made it easier to continue with it after a distraction or forced separation from the task.

Likewise with list-keeping techniques that tailor the way in which list items are formed, etc.
posted by circular at 12:44 PM on September 13, 2011