Predicting subsequent task performance from goal motivation and goal failure, 2015, (original) (raw)
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No prior research has examined how motivation for goal striving influences persistence in the face of increasing goal difficulty. This research examined the role of self-reported (Study 1) and primed (Study 2) autonomous and controlled motives in predicting objectively assessed persistence during the pursuit of an increasingly difficult goal. In Study 1, 100 British athletes (64 males;Mage = 19.89 years, SDage = 2.43) pursued a goal of increasing difficulty on a cycle ergometer. In Study 2, 90 British athletes (43 males;Mage = 19.63 years,SDage = 1.14) engaged in the same task, but their motivation was primed by asking them to observe a video of an actor describing her or his involvement in an unrelated study. In Study 1, self-reported autonomous goal motives predicted goal persistence via challenge appraisals and task-based coping. In contrast, controlled goal motives predicted threat appraisals and disengagement coping, which, in turn, was a negative predictor of persistence. In Study 2, primed autonomous (compared to controlled) goal motives predicted greater persistence, positive affect,and future interest for task engagement. The findings underscore the importance of autonomous motivation for behavioral investment in the face of increased goal difficulty.
When the Going Gets Tough: The “Why” of Goal Striving Matters
Journal of Personality, 2014
No prior research has examined how motivation for goal striving influences persistence in the face of increasing goal difficulty. This research examined the role of self-reported (Study 1) and primed (Study 2) autonomous and controlled motives in predicting objectively assessed persistence during the pursuit of an increasingly difficult goal. In Study 1, 100 British athletes (64 males; Mage = 19.89 years, SDage = 2.43) pursued a goal of increasing difficulty on a cycle ergometer. In Study 2, 90 British athletes (43 males; Mage = 19.63 years, SDage = 1.14) engaged in the same task, but their motivation was primed by asking them to observe a video of an actor describing her or his involvement in an unrelated study. In Study 1, self-reported autonomous goal motives predicted goal persistence via challenge appraisals and task-based coping. In contrast, controlled goal motives predicted threat appraisals and disengagement coping, which, in turn, was a negative predictor of persistence. In Study 2, primed autonomous (compared to controlled) goal motives predicted greater persistence, positive affect, and future interest for task engagement. The findings underscore the importance of autonomous motivation for behavioral investment in the face of increased goal difficulty.
Integrating theories of self-control and motivation to advance endurance performance
International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Self-control is a burgeoning research topic within sport and motivational psychology. Following efforts to define and contextualize self-control, characteristics of self-control are considered that have important implications for sport performance. We describe and evaluate various theoretical perspectives on self-control, including limited resources, shifting priorities, and opportunity-costs. The research described includes sport-specific research but also studies that focus on general motivational principles that look beyond sport-specific phenomena. We propose that attentional, rather than limited resource, explanations of selfcontrol have more value for athletic performance. Moreover, we integrate self-control ideas with descriptions of motivational phenomena to derive novel hypotheses concerning how self-control can be optimized during sport performance. We explain how minimizing desiregoal conflicts by fusing self-control processes and performance goals can delay aversive consequences of self-control that may impede performance. We also suggest that autonomous performance goals are an important motivational input that enhances the effectiveness of selfcontrol processes by a) reducing the salience of the desire to reduce performance-related discomfort, b) increasing attentional resources towards optimal performance, and c) optimizing monitoring and modification of self-control processes. These extensions to knowledge help map out empirical agenda which may drive theoretical advances and deepen understanding of how to improve self-control during performance.
Journal of Science and Cycling, 2015
Self-regulation research analyses behaviour and emotion through goal progress (Carver and Scheier 2013). Goal disengagement is advocated as an adaptive self-regulatory strategy for unattainable goals to reduce distress (Wrosch et al. 2003a; 2003b). In an attempt to further understand ongoing goal pursuit and emotions on endurance athletes, this paper applies adaptive self-regulation theory to interpret and explain the experiences of three cyclists in case studies which display variations in success and failure. Following criterion sampling methods we analysed positive and negative affect, goal expectancy and power output from three male participants (triathletes or cyclists; age range 26-50 yrs) who either successfully achieved their goal (Participant 1), were unsuccessful yet recalculated their goal (Participant 2) or failed to achieve their goal (Participant 3) in a 20 km laboratory cycle time trial. Post trial qualitative data provided explanations regarding pacing, perceptions o...
Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 2008
Objectives: To examine several psychological mechanisms mediating the efficacy of goal setting in endurance sports. Design: The athletes were randomly assigned to four experimental conditions in a 2 Â 2 Â 3 mixed design. Methods: Participants were 35 male endurance athletes ranging in age from 15 to 34 years who competed at different athletic clubs of the Catalonian Track and Field Federation. They were assigned to a goal (attainable or unattainable) and pattern of social comparison (win or lose) conditions, which were the between subject variables, and phase of assessment (three repetitions) served as the repeated-measure variable. Results: To analyze the role of mediator mechanisms, a structural equation modeling analysis was conducted. The results indicated that both motivational and emotional mechanisms were important mediators in improving the efficacy of goal setting in endurance sports. In particular the addition of the concept of suffering (including perceptions of threat and feelings of helplessness) was shown to be related to performance outcomes. Conclusions: When setting goals, the possibility of not reaching those goals can be threatening to individuals and lead to feelings of helplessness, especially if goals are perceived as too difficult. Having strong self-efficacy to meet the goals set is important to maintain motivation.
Effect of Perceived Goal Difficulty, Perceived Exercise Exertion and Sub-Goal on Selected Motor Task
The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of sub-goals on selected motor task, and to find out the relationship between perceived goal difficulty and perceived exercise exertion A total of 40 subjects between the age group of 17 to 23 were assigned the sub goals to achieve the target goal within 6 weeks in which only 24 subjects completed the study. Results of one way ANOVA with repeated measures revealed that the subjects significantly improved their selected motor task performance in which 61 % of the participants achieved their target within four weeks. Significant positive relationship between perceived goal difficulty and perceived exercise exertion was found. Improvement in performance supports the findings that setting goals improves performance in sport. Perceived goal difficulty reflects mainly the amount of effort that subjects have to invest in the task to achieve given target.
When thinking about goals undermines goal pursuit
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 2012
We explore how attending to the goals an activity achieves (i.e., its instrumentality) impacts the motivation to pursue the activity. We propose that the focus on the activity's instrumentality renders the activity more valuable yet its experience less positive. Because experience is mainly salient while pursuing (vs. planning) an activity, attending to the activity's instrumentality increases the intention to pursue the activity but decreases how persistently individuals pursue it. We document this impact of attending to goals on increased intentions but decreased persistence on various activities, from a exercising on a treadmill (Study 1) and creating origami (Study 2) to dental flossing (Study 3) and practicing yoga (Study 4).