Collaborative Research: Goal systemic Effects in Self-Regulation

这项拟议的研究包括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，目标和实现这些目标的手段在精神上是代表的，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，目标与成就在认知上的关联程度意味着促进目标承诺，而目标将其他竞争性目标带到脑海中的程度会削弱目标承诺。反过来，目标承诺决定了个体在各种任务中的坚持性和表现质量。我们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短暂目标(称为诱惑)与较高级别的长期目标相冲突的情况下学习特定的激活模式。适应性模式是这样一种模式：(1)诱惑的激活(例如，通过视觉)立即激活与诱惑冲突的高级目标(节食)，以及(2)高级目标的激活(即，节食的概念)抑制诱惑的精神激活。同样，不适应激活模式是这样的：(1)高级目标(如节食、学业成功)的激活使人想起诱惑(如使人发胖的食物、看电视)，以及(2)诱惑的激活抑制了高级目标的激活。四个实验正在测试这项分析对提高人们激活模式的适应性的影响，并检查这对人们行使功能性自我控制的能力，从而提高他们抵抗诱惑的能力的影响。本研究的潜在洞察力对各种基本的心理学问题具有重要的意义。目标承诺是拟议工作中的一个中心变量，与承诺建立亲密关系的能力或在所选职业中取得成功等问题相关。了解承诺的动态可能会提高我们对现实目标的承诺的能力，并减少对已知会导致不快乐和沮丧的无法实现的追求的承诺。此外，了解克服诱惑的动力可能会提高我们训练个人进行适应性自我控制的能力，从这个意义上说，这有助于他们的成功和个人生活满意度。

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.