Where Do Self-Concordant Goals Come From? The Role of Domain-Specific Psychological Need Satisfaction

Abstract

Previous research has shown that self-concordant goals are more likely to be attained. But what leads someone to adopt a self-concordant goal in the first place? The present research addresses this question by looking at the domains in which goals are set, focusing on the amount of psychological need satisfaction experienced in these domains. Across three experimental studies, we demonstrate that domain-related need satisfaction predicts the extent to which people adopt self-concordant goals in a given domain, laying the foundation for successful goal pursuit. In addition, we show that need satisfaction influences goal self-concordance because in need-satisfying domains people are both more likely to choose the most self-concordant goal (among a set of comparable choices), and are more likely to internalize the possible goals. The implications of this research for goal setting and pursuit as well as for the importance of examining goals within their broader motivational framework are discussed.

Some goals just feel easier: Self-concordance leads to goal progress through subjective ease, not effort

“…Consistent with previous research (Milyavskaya, Nadolny, et al, 2014;Milyavskaya, Nadolny, & Koestner, 2015;Milyavskaya & Inzlicht, 2015), our within-person analyses revealed 78% variability in motivation and 85% in goal progress. This suggests that people generally tend to pursue different goals for very different reasons, and that the extent to which they are successful varies widely from goal to goal.…”

“…Research based on self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) suggests that people's reasons for pursuing a goal can vary from autonomous (because you truly want to) to controlled (because you feel like you have to) reasons. Within the literature on goal pursuit, the term selfconcordance describes the extent to which an individual feels a sense of autonomy when pursuing a goal (Sheldon & Elliot, 1998, 1999Milyavskaya, Nadolny, & Koestner, 2014). This type of motivation stems from an individual's own values and interests, and therefore the goal is pursued with a greater sense of volition.…”

Motivation and self‐regulation: The role of want‐to motivation in the processes underlying self‐regulation and self‐control

“…In this regard, it may also be possible that want‐to motivation is related to greater self‐regulation because some environments are conducive both to greater want‐to motivation and to making more progress on one's goals. Specifically, need‐supportive environments and domains (where people experience greater feelings of autonomy, competence, and relatedness) lead to more want‐to goals set in those domains (Milyavskaya et al, ), but may also have a direct impact on goal attainment. For example, research has found that relationship satisfaction (which is higher in need satisfying relationships; Patrick, Knee, Canevello, & Lonsbary, ) facilitates goal pursuit and leads to better goal progress (Hofmann, Finkel, & Fitzsimons, ).…”

Motivational and neural correlates of self-control of eating: A combined neuroimaging and experience sampling study in dieting female college students

“…On the other hand, it may be that due to other factors and variables not measured here, some dieters happen to experience weaker food desires and positive mood. In turn, they end up being successful self-regulators, feeling competent and thereby developing more autonomous motivation for dieting (Milyavskaya, Nadolny, & Koestner, 2014). Future studies are needed to test such possibilities, especially in other domains where self-regulatory goals are critical for health, such as alcohol consumption and smoking.…”