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Abstract
An influential line of research suggests that initial bouts of self-control increase
the susceptibility to self-control failure (ego depletion effect). Despite seemingly
abundant evidence, some researchers have suggested that evidence for ego depletion
was the sole result of publication bias and p-hacking, with the true effect being
indistinguishable from zero. Here, we examine (a) whether the evidence brought forward
against ego depletion will convince a proponent that ego depletion does not exist
and (b) whether arguments that could be brought forward in defense of ego depletion
will convince a skeptic that ego depletion does exist. We conclude that despite several
hundred published studies, the available evidence is inconclusive. Both additional
empirical and theoretical works are needed to make a compelling case for either side
of the debate. We discuss necessary steps for future work toward this aim.