Understanding Executive Function: The Role of Self-Regulation in Human Goals

When psychologists talk about executive function, they are describing the brain’s ability to manage itself—setting goals, resisting distractions, and directing behaviour toward meaningful outcomes. Russell Barkley (2012) suggests that a simple way to think about executive function is that it is essentially the same as self-regulation. In other words, executive function is our capacity to regulate ourselves in ways that shape whether future goals are more or less likely to happen.

We all experience this in daily life. Choosing not to check your phone while working, making a plan for your future career, or sticking to healthier routines are all examples of self-regulation in action. At its core, it is about acting now in ways that make the future better.

To understand this process, it helps to think about goals and the means to reach them. A goal is simply a future state that reduces dissatisfaction or increases well-being. The means are the steps or actions we take to get there. What is important is that these means are not automatically part of the world—we give them meaning by recognising their usefulness. For one person, exercise might be a powerful tool for well-being; for another, it may hold little value. Science can measure the objective outcomes of an action, but it is the subjective meaning of a goal that truly drives behaviour.

Executive function is what allows us to connect this sense of meaning with the actions required to achieve it. It is what helps us decide what matters to us, organise our efforts, and follow through. Over time, executive function develops in complexity. At first it is about managing ourselves in the moment—holding back an impulse, remembering instructions, or solving a problem. Later, it grows into the ability to plan ahead, regulate emotions, and stay motivated over days or weeks. With further maturity, it supports social understanding and cooperation, allowing us to build reciprocal relationships and, ultimately, to work together on long-term shared goals.

What makes executive function fascinating is that it is not simply about efficiency or logic—it is about personal meaning. Each of us decides which goals matter, and this shapes how we regulate ourselves. For one person, mastering a musical instrument may be deeply fulfilling; for another, the same activity might feel meaningless. Executive function is therefore the bridge between who we are now and who we want to become.

Reference: Barkley, R. A. (2012). Executive Functions: What They Are, How They Work, and Why They Evolved. New York: The Guilford Press.