Topic: Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service
7) Why does self-control sometimes fail to act as an internal system of restraint? Illustrate with suitable examples. (250 words)
Ethics by Lexicon publications
Why this question:
The question is based on the concept of self-control.
Key demand of the question:
Explain in detail what is meant by self-control and provide for different perspectives.
Directive:
Illustrate – A similar instruction to ‘explain’ whereby you are asked to show the workings of something, making use of definite examples and statistics if appropriate to add weight to your explanation.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define self-control.
Body:
Self-control, an aspect of inhibitory control, is the ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behavior in the face of temptations and impulses.
Explain that Self-control is the skill needed to achieve any goal or desired outcome. People with a lot of self-control have the motivation and ability to override their unwanted impulses and desires.
Explain what happens when people fail to exercise self-control, discuss its relevance in various walks of life – private, public even its effect on civil servants; one can detail using suitable examples.
Conclusion:
Conclude with its importance. sometimes one acta in accordance with their deliberative better judgment, and sometimes one fails to do so, choosing a course of action in total conflict with those better judgments,
It must then have to do with the individual’s inner system of self-control — that set of principles that govern their particular mind and behavior.
