Collaborative Research: Goal Systemic Effects in Self Regulation

该研究由8个实验研究组成，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，在这个意义上，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，在多大程度上，目标与实现手段的认知关联促进了目标承诺，而在多大程度上，目标使其他竞争目标的想法减损了目标承诺。目标承诺反过来又决定了个体在各种任务中的持久性和绩效质量。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，个人可能会学习特定的激活模式之间的低层次的瞬时目标（称为诱惑）与高阶，长期目标的冲突。适应性模式是这样一种模式，其中（1）激活（例如通过视觉）诱惑（比如节食者的增肥食物）立即激活与诱惑冲突的上级目标（节食），以及（2）激活上级目标（即，节食的概念）抑制了诱惑的心理激活。类似地，适应不良的激活模式是这样一种模式，其中（1）上级目标（例如节食，学业成功）的激活使人想起诱惑（例如，（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能力的影响，从而提高他们抵御诱惑的能力。 本研究的潜在见解对各种基本的心理问题具有重要意义。目标承诺，在拟议的工作中的一个中心变量是相关的问题，如承诺密切的关系，或在自己选择的职业取得成功的能力。理解承诺的动力学可以提高我们诱导对现实目标的承诺的能力，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挫折。此外，了解克服诱惑的动力可能会增加我们训练个人适应性自我控制的能力，并在这个意义上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.