Collaborative Research: Goal Systemic Effects in Self Regulation

合作研究：自我调节的目标系统效应

• 批准号: 0313483
• 负责人: James Shah
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-05-01 至 2005-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0313483&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Goal; Systemic; Effects

The proposed research consists of 8 experimental studies designed to test a new, cognitive, theory of motivation. The basic assumption of the theory is that goals and means for their attainment are mentally represented, and in this sense they constitute cognitive entities that can be cognitively activated. Our preliminary research suggests that the degree to which goals are cognitively associated with attainment means promotes goal commitment and the degree to which goals bring other, competing, goals to mind detracts from goal commitment. Goal commitment, in turn, determines the individuals' persistence and quality of performance at various tasks. Four experiments are designed to explore those aspects of our theory. Our preliminary research also indicates that individuals may learn specific activation patterns between low level momentary goals (referred to as temptations) in conflict with higher order, long term goals. An adaptive pattern is one in which (1) activation (e.g. via sight) of a temptation (say a fattening food for a dieter) immediately activates the superordinate goal (dieting) with which the temptation is in conflict and (2) activation of the superordinate goal (i.e., the concept of dieting) inhibits the mental activation of the temptation. Similarly, a maladaptive activation pattern is one in which (1) an activation of the superordinate goal (e.g. dieting, academic success) brings to mind the temptation (e.g., fattening foods, television watching), and (2) activation of the temptation inhibits the activation of the superordinate goal. Four experiments are testing the implications of this analysis for increasing the adaptiveness of people's activation patterns and examines the effects this has on persons' ability to exercise functional self control, hence increase their ability to resist temptations. The potential insights from the present research have important implications for a variety of basic psychological concerns. Goal commitment, a central variable in the proposed work is pertinent to such issues as the ability to commit to close relationships, or to succeed in one's chosen profession. Understanding the dynamics of commitment may improve our ability to induce commitment to realistic goals, and to reduce commitment to unattainable pursuits known to result in unhappiness and frustration. Furthermore, understanding the dynamics of overcoming temptations may increase our ability to train individuals in adaptive self control, and in this sense contribute to their success and personal life satisfaction.

拟议的研究包括8项实验研究，旨在测试一种新的认知动机理论。该理论的基本假设是，目标和实现目标的手段是心理表征的，从这个意义上说，它们构成了可以被认知激活的认知实体。我们的初步研究表明，目标在认知上与成就手段的关联程度促进了目标承诺，而目标将其他竞争性目标带入大脑的程度则削弱了目标承诺。目标承诺反过来又决定了个人在各种任务中的持久性和表现质量。设计了四个实验来探索我们理论的这些方面。我们的初步研究还表明，个体可能会在低水平的瞬间目标（称为诱惑）与高水平的长期目标之间学习特定的激活模式。适应性模式是这样一种模式：(1)对诱惑的激活（例如，通过视觉）（例如，对节食者来说，使人发胖的食物）立即激活与诱惑相冲突的上级目标（节食）；(2)上级目标的激活（例如，节食的概念）抑制了对诱惑的心理激活。类似地，一个不适应的激活模式是这样的：(1)上级目标的激活（例如节食、学业成功）会让人想起诱惑（例如增肥食物、看电视）；(2)诱惑的激活抑制了上级目标的激活。四个实验正在测试这一分析的含义，以增加人们激活模式的适应性，并检查这对人们行使功能性自我控制能力的影响，从而提高他们抵抗诱惑的能力。本研究的潜在见解对各种基本心理问题具有重要意义。目标承诺是建议工作中的一个中心变量，它与诸如承诺亲密关系的能力或在一个人选择的职业中取得成功的能力等问题相关。了解承诺的动力可以提高我们对现实目标的承诺能力，并减少对无法实现的追求的承诺，这些追求会导致不快乐和沮丧。此外，理解克服诱惑的动力可以提高我们训练个人适应自我控制的能力，从这个意义上说，有助于他们的成功和个人生活满意度。