This document provides an overview of a research study on the impact of Puerto Rican culture on willpower. The study will administer surveys to pairs of undergraduate students at the University of Puerto Rico in Cayey to collect data on upbringing, education, and willpower from two points of view. Participants will also undergo interviews and tests with a psychologist. The expected results are that children raised in stable environments with discipline and morals will have stronger willpower and be more likely to achieve goals, while those from unstable homes without discipline will have weaker willpower.

1. Willpower: Our missing
Moxie
By: Carla J. Figueroa-Garcia
RISE Program – Chemistry Dept.
Prof. Edgar Llera-Santos
Biology 3009
S

2. Introduction
S Willpower is a combined word that in any part of the
world and in any language generally means the same. It
is the ability to resist short-term gratification in the pursuit
of long-term goals or objectives, according to the
American Psychology Association (APA). Willpower is
what drives us everyday and in every situation. Many
theories and speculations exist about willpowers origins
and what affects it, one of this factors is the culture. A
culture determines a societies development, education,
religion, etc. This is why willpower is our missing moxie.

3. Problem
S Up to what extent can the Puerto Rican culture influence
our willpower trough the upbringing and the education?

4. Hypothesis
S A human being can achieve anything that he proposes if
he has a good self-esteem and upbringing that
compliment its willpower.

5. Objectives
S To study trough a modified quantitative survey and
interview research the impact level of the Puerto Rican
culture in the willpower of the population of
undergraduates students of the University of Puerto Rico
in Cayey.
S To design, in a collaborative work with a psychologist, a
survey and different tests that will not only be used in the
investigation, but that can also be used in the future as
standard measuring system by doctors or investigators.

6. Methodology
S The organism that is going to be study is the human and
the population will be undergraduate students of the
University of Puerto Rico in Cayey.
S Students will be selected by pairs. This pairs maybe
roommates, close friends, siblings, family or couples.
S To collect the necessary data two surveys will be
administered. One will be filled by the person and the
other one by its couple. It is designed this way so that
there will be two points of view to compare.

7. Methodology
S Also the subjects will be interviewed by a professional
psychologist to observe their response to different tests
that are part of the standard measuring system that will
be designed.
S All of the information will be confidential between the
investigator and the subject. Only the PI and the
psychologist will have access to the information that is
collected.

8. Expected Results
S Children that are raised in stable and nurturing
environments with discipline and morals are stronger
individuals that are more likely to succeed in anything
that they propose to themselves.
S Children that are raised in unstable homes with no
disciple, morals nor age appropriate surroundings or
education will have a poor willpower and as a
consequence will not achieve what they may propose to
themselves.

9. References
S What you need to know about willpower: The
psychological science of self-control. (n.d.). Retrieved
from http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/willpower.aspx