Abstract: Self-control is an important function for individual survival and adaptation. Over the past 10 years, theoretical and empirical researches of self-control have been focused on the theory of limited self-control resource. In fact, the resource for self-control is limited. When self-control resource is over consumed, ego-depletion will be initiated, which can adversely affect the individual’s performance in the aspects of emotion, cognition, and behavior. Individual’s emotion regulation, thought inhibition and distraction control might lead to ego-depletion, but the recovery of self-control resources could be effectively promoted through sleep, relaxation, positive mood induction or other ways. Future studies should further define the psychological and physiological mechanism of ego-depletion, and explore the inherent relationship between ego-depletion and other factors that might also affect individual’s self-control behaviour.

Key words: self-control resource, ego-depletion, theory of limited self-control resource