Effective self-regulation of goal attainment

Abstract

Self-regulatory strategies of goal setting and goal striving are analyzed in three experiments. Experiment 1 uses fantasy realization theory (Oettingen, in: J. BrandstaK tter, R.M. Lerner (Eds.), Action and Self Development: ¹heory and Research through the¸ife Span, Sage Publications Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA, 1999, pp. 315}342) to analyze the self-regulatory processes of turning free fantasies about a desired future into binding goals. School children 8}12 years of age who had to mentally elaborate a desired academic future as well as present reality standing in its way, formed stronger goal commitments than participants solely indulging in the desired future or merely dwelling on present reality (Experiment 1). E!ective implementation of set goals is addressed in the second and third experiments (Gollwitzer, Am. Psychol. 54 (1999) 493}503). Adolescents who had to furnish a set educational goal with relevant implementation intentions (specifying where, when, and how they would start goal pursuit) were comparatively more successful in meeting the goal (Experiment 2). Linking anticipated situations with goal-directed behaviors (i.e., if}then plans) rather than the mere thinking about good opportunities to act makes implementation intentions facilitate action initiation (Experiment 3).Successful goal attainment demands completing two di!erent tasks. People have to "rst turn their desires into binding goals, and second they have to attain the set goal. Both tasks bene"t from self-regulatory strategies. In this article we describe a series of experiments with children, adolescents, and young adults that investigate self-regulatory processes facilitating e!ective goal setting and successful goal striving. The experimental studies investigate (1) di!erent routes to goal setting depending on how

Reducing the Expression of Implicit Stereotypes: Reflexive Control Through Implementation Intentions

“…However, forming a goal intention is only the first step in the goal pursuit process and usually does not protect individuals from conflicting attentional or behavioral response tendencies (Gollwitzer & Schaal, 1998). As such, the implementation intention effects observed here appear to be attributable to the if-then structure of the strategy, which allowed participants to directly link an action to the goal-triggering cues presented in the task (see also Oettingen, Hoenig, & Gollwitzer, 2000).…”

Implementation intentions and efficient action initiation.

“…Implementation intentions also facilitate goal attainment when forgetting goal-directed behavior is likely (e.g., the regular intake of vitamin pills; ; the signing of worksheets with very old people; Chasteen, Park, & Schwarz, in press), or when keeping deadlines is demanded (i.e., Gollwitzer & Brandstatter, 1997, Studies 1 and 2; Oettingen, Honig, & Gollwitzer, 2000; Studies 2 and 3).…”

Blocked goals, persistent action: Implementation intentions engender tenacious goal striving

“…Thus, the plan had the critical contingent format for implementation intentions (cf. Oettingen et al, 2000).…”