scholarly journals Planning for success: Trait self-control predicts goal attainment through the use of implementation intentions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlyn M. Werner ◽  
Hallgeir Sjåstad ◽  
Marina Milyavskaya ◽  
Wilhelm Hofmann
Keyword(s):  
Goal Attainment ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Implementation Intentions ◽  
Goal Pursuit ◽  
Adaptive Strategies ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Control Scale ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Control Implementation

The purpose of this research was to examine the relation between trait self-control, implementation intentions, the subjective experience of obstacles, and goal attainment. Across three studies (Ntotal=3,152), participants completed the brief self-control scale, set goals for the next week (Studies 2-3) or next year (Study 1), and then rated whether they had implementation intentions for each goal. In a follow-up survey, participants rated the amount of progress they made on each goal (Studies 2-3). Self-control was positively associated with having implementation intentions (Studies 1-3), which in turn was associated with better goal attainment (Studies 2-3). We also found that both self-control and implementation intentions was negatively associated with the experience of obstacles during goal pursuit (Study 2), but this pattern was not replicated (Study 3). These findings suggest that people with higher levels of self-control are more likely to attain their goals because they use more adaptive strategies, such as implementation intentions.

Health goals among American adults: Prevalence, characteristics, and barriers

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 1350-1355
Author(s):  
Marina Milyavskaya ◽  
Daniel Nadolny
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Goal Setting ◽  
Goal Attainment ◽  
Implementation Intentions ◽  
Goal Pursuit ◽  
Health Goals ◽  
Health Goal ◽  
Actual Use ◽  
Reported Health

Although numerous factors have been demonstrated in laboratory settings to lead to more successful health goal attainment, their actual use in daily goal pursuit is unknown. This study examines spontaneously reported health goals and their characteristics in a sample of 557 American adults. Participants responded to questions about health and health goals, with items assessing motivation, social support, and implementation intentions. In all, 66 percent of respondents had a health goal, 26 percent of participants had implementation intentions, and 47 percent received support from close others. Results suggest that interventions should focus on encouraging goal setting, teaching implementation intentions, and educating close others in providing support.

scholarly journals The use and evaluation of self-regulation techniques can predict health goal attainment in adults: an explorative study

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolien Plaete ◽  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij ◽  
Maite Verloigne ◽  
Geert Crombez
Keyword(s):  
Goal Attainment ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Implementation Intentions ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Implementation Intention ◽  
Optimal Number ◽  
Ehealth Intervention ◽  
Personal Advice

Background. Self-regulation tools are not always used optimally, and implementation intention plans often lack quality. Therefore, this study explored participants’ use and feasibility evaluation of self-regulation techniques and their impact on goal attainment. Methods. Data were obtained from 452 adults in a proof of concept (POC) intervention of ‘MyPlan’, an eHealth intervention using self-regulation techniques to promote three healthy behaviours (physical activity(PA), fruit intake, or vegetable intake). Participants applied self-regulation techniques to a self-selected health behaviour, and evaluated the self-regulation techniques. The quality of implementation intentions was rated by the authors as a function of instrumentality (instrumental and non-instrumental) and specificity (non-specific and medium to high specific). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict goal attainment. Results. Goal attainment was significantly predicted by the motivational value of the personal advice (OR:1.86), by the specificity of the implementation intentions (OR:3.5), by the motivational value of the action plan (OR:1.86), and by making a new action plan at follow-up (OR:4.10). Interaction-effects with behaviour showed that the specificity score of the implementation intention plans (OR:4.59), the motivational value of the personal advice (OR:2.38), selecting hindering factors and solutions(OR:2.00) and making a new action plan at follow-up (OR:7.54) were predictive of goal attainment only for fruit or vegetable intake. Also, when participants in the fruit and vegetable group made more than three plans, they were more likely to attain their goal (OR:1.73), whereas the reverse was the case in the PA group (OR:0.34). Discussion. Feedback on goal feasibility, coping implementation intentions, further research to investigate the optimal number of plans for different behaviours, the optimal frequency and timing of follow-up modules and new ways to incorporate social support in eHealth interventions, are recommended.

Goal Attainment

2019 ◽  
pp. 245-268
Author(s):  
Peter M. Gollwitzer ◽  
Gabriele Oettingen
Keyword(s):  
Goal Attainment ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Implementation Intentions ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Goal Pursuit ◽  
The Self ◽  
Mental Contrasting ◽  
History Of ◽  
Regulation Strategies ◽  
Underlying Processes

This chapter begins with a description of how the goal concept emerged in the history of the psychology of motivation to better understand the important role it plays in current research on motivation. The chapter then turns to the self-regulation of goal pursuit. The effects and underlying processes of two different self-regulation strategies will be discussed in detail: mental contrasting and forming implementation intentions. The chapter concludes with a report of the results of recent intervention studies that combine the self-regulation strategies of mental contrasting and forming implementation intentions to help people enhance goal attainment in the health, academic, and interpersonal domains.

scholarly journals The use and evaluation of self-regulation techniques can predict health goal attainment in adults: an explorative study

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolien Plaete ◽  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij ◽  
Maite Verloigne ◽  
Geert Crombez
Keyword(s):  
Goal Attainment ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Implementation Intentions ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Implementation Intention ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Health Goal ◽  
Personal Advice

Background.Self-regulation tools are not always used optimally, and implementation intention plans often lack quality. Therefore, this study explored participants’ use and evaluation of self-regulation techniques and their impact on goal attainment.Methods.Data were obtained from 452 adults in a proof of concept (POC) intervention of ‘MyPlan’, an eHealth intervention using self-regulation techniques to promote three healthy behaviours (physical activity (PA), fruit intake, or vegetable intake). Participants applied self-regulation techniques to a self-selected health behaviour, and evaluated the self-regulation techniques. The quality of implementation intentions was rated by the authors as a function of instrumentality (instrumental and non-instrumental) and specificity (non-specific and medium to highly specific). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict goal attainment.Results.Goal attainment was significantly predicted by the motivational value of the personal advice (OR:1.86), by the specificity of the implementation intentions (OR:3.5), by the motivational value of the action plan (OR:1.86), and by making a new action plan at follow-up (OR:4.10). Interaction-effects with behaviour showed that the specificity score of the implementation intention plans (OR:4.59), the motivational value of the personal advice (OR:2.38), selecting hindering factors and solutions(OR:2.00) and making a new action plan at follow-up (OR:7.54) were predictive of goal attainment only for fruit or vegetable intake. Also, when participants in the fruit and vegetable group made more than three plans, they were more likely to attain their goal (OR:1.73), whereas the reverse was the case in the PA group (OR:0.34).Discussion.The chance that adults reach fruit and vegetable goals can be increased by including motivating personal advice, self-formulated action plans, and instructions/strategies to make specific implementation intentions into eHealth interventions. To increase the chance that adults reach short-term PA goals, it is suggested to keep eHealth PA interventions simple and focus only on developing a few implementation intentions. However, more research is needed to identify behaviour change techniques that can increase health goal attainment at long-term.

Combined Effect of Mental Contrasting and Implementation Intention on College Students' Book Reading

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 767-783
Author(s):  
Guoxia Wang ◽  
Xiaosong Gai
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Goal Attainment ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Goal Pursuit ◽  
Implementation Intention ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Book Reading ◽  
Mental Contrasting ◽  
Assigned Reading ◽  
Intervention Condition

The combining of mental contrasting with implementation intention (MCII) as a selfregulation strategy for goal pursuit enhances goal attainment. Our aims in this study were as follows: (a) confirm the effect of MCII in this context, and (b) explore how the features of MCII affect goal-pursuit behaviors in a book-reading task. We randomly assigned 90 college students to either an MCII intervention condition or a control condition. The results showed that participants in the MCII intervention group did not exert more effort in reading the book than did the participants in the control condition. However, analysis within the MCII intervention condition group showed that the number of written words in the MCII exercise phase (quantity), the integrity of the participants' implementation intention, and the mental contrasting specificity (quality) of MCII affected the participants' reading behavior and achievement. Finally, further analysis of mental contrasting content revealed that, compared with participants for whom the obstacles to completing the assigned reading were internal, such as lack of self-control or lack of interest in the subject matter, participants who identified external obstacles, such as the need to complete other study assignments or to work in part-time employment, spent more time on reading the assigned book. These findings suggest that the features of MCII have a vital influence on behavior and achievement.

scholarly journals The Affective Self-regulation of Covert and Overt Reasoning in a Promotion vs. Prevention Mind-set

2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alina Kolańczyk ◽  
Marta Roczniewska
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Focus ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Goal Pursuit ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Main Hypothesis ◽  
Control Scale ◽  
Wason Selection Task ◽  
Priming Paradigm ◽  
Mind Set ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The main hypothesis of studies presented in this article is that episodic implicit evaluations (affects) toward task-relevant objects determine thinking and decisions by actively placing them within or outside the scope of attention. In these studies we also aimed to test the impact of regulatory focus on implicit evaluations and goal pursuit. We applied the Promotion-Prevention Self-control Scale as a measure of mind-set during thinking in the Wason Selection Task (WST) in Study 1 and Island Decision Game (IDG) in Study 2. Directly after learning of the tasks, participants evaluated (in affective priming paradigm) objects that constituted the task’s content. The findings are in line with the hypothesis stating that goals influence the way in which objects are automatically evaluated. The effects of promotion mind-set were more pronounced in both studies. Promotion-focused individuals positively assessed objects that serve as a confirmation. The implicit evaluations by prevention-oriented individuals disclosed their falsifying approach to the WST. The positive implicit evaluation of correct objects suggests their sensitivity to information useful for falsification and is consistent with their tendency to cautiously self-control thinking.

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

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlyn M. Werner ◽  
Marina Milyavskaya
Keyword(s):  
Goal Attainment ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Goal Pursuit ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Regulatory Processes ◽  
Integral Role

Research on self-regulation has largely focused on the idea of effortful self-control, which assumes that exerting willpower will lead to greater success. However, in recent years, research has challenged this perspective and instead proposes that effortless self-regulation is more adaptive for long-term goal pursuit. Taking into consideration the burgeoning literature on effortless self-regulation, here we propose that motivation – or the reasons why we pursue our goals – plays an integral role in this process. The objective of the present paper is thus to highlight how motivation can play a role in how self-regulation unfolds. Specifically, we propose that pursuing goals because you want-to (vs. have-to) is associated with better goal attainment as a function of experiencing less temptations and obstacles. While the reason why want-to motivation relates to experiencing fewer obstacles has yet to be thoroughly explored, here we propose some potential mechanisms drawing from recent research on self-regulation. We also provide recommendations for future research, highlighting the importance of considering motivation in the study of self-regulatory processes.

scholarly journals The use and evaluation of self-regulation techniques can predict health goal attainment in adults: an explorative study

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolien Plaete ◽  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij ◽  
Maite Verloigne ◽  
Geert Crombez
Keyword(s):  
Goal Attainment ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Implementation Intentions ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Implementation Intention ◽  
Optimal Number ◽  
Ehealth Intervention ◽  
Personal Advice

Background. Self-regulation tools are not always used optimally, and implementation intention plans often lack quality. Therefore, this study explored participants’ use and feasibility evaluation of self-regulation techniques and their impact on goal attainment. Methods. Data were obtained from 452 adults in a proof of concept (POC) intervention of ‘MyPlan’, an eHealth intervention using self-regulation techniques to promote three healthy behaviours (physical activity(PA), fruit intake, or vegetable intake). Participants applied self-regulation techniques to a self-selected health behaviour, and evaluated the self-regulation techniques. The quality of implementation intentions was rated by the authors as a function of instrumentality (instrumental and non-instrumental) and specificity (non-specific and medium to high specific). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict goal attainment. Results. Goal attainment was significantly predicted by the motivational value of the personal advice (OR:1.86), by the specificity of the implementation intentions (OR:3.5), by the motivational value of the action plan (OR:1.86), and by making a new action plan at follow-up (OR:4.10). Interaction-effects with behaviour showed that the specificity score of the implementation intention plans (OR:4.59), the motivational value of the personal advice (OR:2.38), selecting hindering factors and solutions(OR:2.00) and making a new action plan at follow-up (OR:7.54) were predictive of goal attainment only for fruit or vegetable intake. Also, when participants in the fruit and vegetable group made more than three plans, they were more likely to attain their goal (OR:1.73), whereas the reverse was the case in the PA group (OR:0.34). Discussion. Feedback on goal feasibility, coping implementation intentions, further research to investigate the optimal number of plans for different behaviours, the optimal frequency and timing of follow-up modules and new ways to incorporate social support in eHealth interventions, are recommended.

LRS-Elterngruppenprogramm: Teilnehmerzufriedenheit und subjektive Effektivität

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-57
Author(s):  
Anke Buschmann ◽  
Bettina Multhauf
Keyword(s):  
Goal Attainment ◽  
Goal Attainment Scaling ◽  
Eine Hohe ◽  
Post Test

Zusammenfassung. Das Ziel vorliegender Studie bestand in einer Überprüfung der Akzeptanz und Teilnehmerzufriedenheit eines Gruppentrainings für Eltern von Kindern mit Lese- und/oder Rechtschreibschwierigkeiten. Zudem sollten erste Indikatoren bezüglich der Wirksamkeit des Programmes untersucht werden. Dazu wurden Daten von 25 Müttern zu 2 Messzeitpunkten (Post-Test, 3-Monats-Follow-up) analysiert. Die Probandinnen nahmen über einen Zeitraum von 3 Monaten an 5 Sitzungen des Programms «Mein Kind mit Lese- und Rechtschreibschwierigkeiten verstehen, stärken und unterstützen: Heidelberger Elterntraining zum Umgang mit LRS» teil. Ein Paper-Pencil-Fragebogen diente zum Post-Test der Erhebung von Teilnahmeparametern, der Zufriedenheit mit dem Training, der Relevanz einzelner Themen und der wahrgenommenen Veränderungen in wichtigen Zielbereichen. Zusätzlich kam eine für das Gruppensetting adaptierte Form des Goal Attainment Scaling zum Einsatz, um das Erreichen persönlich relevanter Ziele unmittelbar nach dem Training sowie 3 Monate später zu erfassen. Die Analyse des Fragebogens zeigte eine hohe Partizipationsbereitschaft der Mütter. Die Rahmenbedingungen des Trainings (Gruppengröße, Dauer des Trainings und der Sitzungen) sowie die didaktischen Methoden wurden als ideal und die Themen als relevant eingeschätzt. Die Mütter sahen sich in der Lage, die Inhalte im Alltag anzuwenden und nahmen positive Veränderungen hinsichtlich Einfühlungsvermögen, Unterstützung des Kindes, Hausaufgabensituation und Beziehung zum Kind wahr. Das Ausmaß des Erreichens individueller Ziele zum Post-Test variierte je nach Zielbereich: Einfühlen und Verstehen (75 %), Optimierung der Hausaufgabensituation (76 %), Unterstützung psychosozialer Entwicklung (86 %), Lese-Rechtschreibförderung (60 %) und war auch 3 Monate später noch vergleichbar hoch. Die Überprüfung der Wirksamkeit hinsichtlich einer Belastungsreduktion und Kompetenzstärkung seitens der Eltern erfolgt aktuell im Vergleich zu einer unbehandelten Kontrollgruppe.

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