Setting One's Mind on Action
Planning Out Goal Striving in Advance
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 23670208 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Peter M Gollwitzer (0000-0003-4872-2929, New York University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2015 |
| Pages | 1-14 |
| Publication date | 2015-05-15 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | OTHER |
| Venue | Emerging Trends in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (JOURNAL) |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1002/9781118900772.etrds0298 |
| OpenAlex | W2098940122 |
| ISBN | 9781118900772 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 48 |
Ineffective goal striving may be overcome using a simple self‐regulation strategy: preparing goal striving in advance by forming implementation intentions (i.e., making if‐then plans). This strategy helps to cope with the classic challenges to goal striving: getting started, staying on track, not overextending oneself, and disengaging from faulty means. Interestingly, these beneficial effects are observed no matter whether hindrances from within (e.g., ego depletion) or outside (e.g., social influence) the person are to be dealt with. In this essay, the processes on which the beneficial effects of implementation intentions are based will be discussed by pointing to relevant research using cognitive task paradigms and assessing brain data. Moreover, recent findings are reported demonstrating that implementation intentions can be used to curb reflexive cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses that interfere with a person's focal goal pursuit. In closing this essay, a behavior change intervention (i.e., mental contrasting with implementation intentions) is introduced that establishes the prerequisites for implementation intention effects to occur, and research areas in psychology are pointed to that could benefit from conducting implementation intention research.
Action (physics) · Cognition · Cognitive psychology · Control (management) · Goal pursuit · Goal setting · Intervention (counseling) · Management · Reflexivity · Sociology · Task (project management) · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Computer Science · Mental Health Research Topics · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology
Motivation
Using implementation intentions prompts to enhance influenza vaccination rates
Implementation Intentions and Goal Achievement
The Interplay Between Goal Intentions and Implementation Intentions
Metacognition in Action
A new look at habits and the habit-goal interface.
Boosting scholastic test scores by willpower
Intention—Behavior Relations
Goal Achievement
Future thought and behaviour change
Implementation intentions and disengagement from a failing course of action
When planning is not enough
To plan or not to plan? Goal achievement or interrupting the performance of mundane behaviors
Implementation intentions and efficient action initiation
Strategic regulation of mimicry effects by implementation intentions
Staying on track
Implementation intentions and the willful pursuit of prosocial goals in negotiations
Can implementation intentions help to overcome ego-depletion
Planning is for doing
Circumventing anxiety during interpersonal encounters to promote interest in contact
Short-circuiting transference using implementation intentions
Implementation intentions
Self-regulation of goal-setting
Strategic automation of emotion regulation
Implementation intentions and effective goal pursuit
Self-regulation and depletion of limited resources
| Citations per year | 0.67 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2023 - 2025 (3) |
| Highly cited | No |