The authors propose that self-control involves making decisions and behaving in a manner consistent with high-level versus low-level construals of a situation. High-level construals (which capture global, superordinate, primary features of an event) should lead to greater self-control than low-level construals (which capture local, subordinate, secondary features). In six experiments using three different techniques, the authors manipulated construal levels and assessed their effects on self-control and underlying psychological processes. High-level construals led to decreased preferences for immediate over delayed outcomes, greater physical endurance, stronger intentions to exert self-control, and less positive evaluations of temptations that undermine self-control. These results support a construal-level analysis of self-control. The study integrates previous approaches in a more general theoretical framework and makes new predictions. Self-control is conceptualized as making decisions and acting in accordance with global, high-level construals rather than local, low-level construals. Construal-level theory (CLT) posits that the same event or object can be represented at multiple levels. High-level construals entail constructing abstract conceptualizations of information about objects and events. Low-level construals, alternatively, consist of subordinate, incidental features. Research has shown that representations at high and low levels are distinct. High-level representations are more coherent and integrative, whereas low-level representations are more specific and disparate. Individuals' judgments, decisions, and behaviors differ as a function of construal level. When high-level construals are activated, more weight is given to high-level features in preferences and actions. When low-level construals are activated, preferences and actions are based increasingly on low-level features. The major determinant of what level of construal is activated is the psychological distance of the event or object in consideration. Distancing a target on any psychological dimension leads to greater activation of high-level construals rather than low-level construals. The tendency to construe situations at high and low levels can also be procedurally primed. The present research examines a straightforward prediction that follows from this conceptualization of self-control, namely that enhancing the tendency to construe a situation in high-level terms would correspondingly promote decisions and actions that reflect self-control. The activation of high-level construals should cause high-level features to be weighed preferentially in evaluations and decisions. In turn, this should lead individuals to make decisions and act in accordance with their primary, central objectives and not secondary, incidental factors. The results of the experiments support the hypothesis that high levels of construal lead to greater self-control than low levels. Participants who answered questions of why they engaged in actions displayed a reduced tendency to prefer immediate over delayed outcomes compared with those who responded to questions of how they engaged in actions. This suggests that high-level construals lead to greater self-control than low-level construals.The authors propose that self-control involves making decisions and behaving in a manner consistent with high-level versus low-level construals of a situation. High-level construals (which capture global, superordinate, primary features of an event) should lead to greater self-control than low-level construals (which capture local, subordinate, secondary features). In six experiments using three different techniques, the authors manipulated construal levels and assessed their effects on self-control and underlying psychological processes. High-level construals led to decreased preferences for immediate over delayed outcomes, greater physical endurance, stronger intentions to exert self-control, and less positive evaluations of temptations that undermine self-control. These results support a construal-level analysis of self-control. The study integrates previous approaches in a more general theoretical framework and makes new predictions. Self-control is conceptualized as making decisions and acting in accordance with global, high-level construals rather than local, low-level construals. Construal-level theory (CLT) posits that the same event or object can be represented at multiple levels. High-level construals entail constructing abstract conceptualizations of information about objects and events. Low-level construals, alternatively, consist of subordinate, incidental features. Research has shown that representations at high and low levels are distinct. High-level representations are more coherent and integrative, whereas low-level representations are more specific and disparate. Individuals' judgments, decisions, and behaviors differ as a function of construal level. When high-level construals are activated, more weight is given to high-level features in preferences and actions. When low-level construals are activated, preferences and actions are based increasingly on low-level features. The major determinant of what level of construal is activated is the psychological distance of the event or object in consideration. Distancing a target on any psychological dimension leads to greater activation of high-level construals rather than low-level construals. The tendency to construe situations at high and low levels can also be procedurally primed. The present research examines a straightforward prediction that follows from this conceptualization of self-control, namely that enhancing the tendency to construe a situation in high-level terms would correspondingly promote decisions and actions that reflect self-control. The activation of high-level construals should cause high-level features to be weighed preferentially in evaluations and decisions. In turn, this should lead individuals to make decisions and act in accordance with their primary, central objectives and not secondary, incidental factors. The results of the experiments support the hypothesis that high levels of construal lead to greater self-control than low levels. Participants who answered questions of why they engaged in actions displayed a reduced tendency to prefer immediate over delayed outcomes compared with those who responded to questions of how they engaged in actions. This suggests that high-level construals lead to greater self-control than low-level construals.