Motives and Goals Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What are the cognitive and behavioral strategies aimed at when protecting a valued goal?

Enhancing negative thoughts

Counteracting temptations (correct)

Encouraging distractions

Promoting temptations

Individuals automatically activate temptation-related thoughts in response to goal cues.

False

What does precommitment entail in behavioral strategies?

Pursuing goals and forgoing temptation.

These self-control processes can benefit individuals' long-term interests, either __________ or without conscious awareness.

consciously Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of our behavior each day?

countless goals Signup and view all the answers

How is a goal defined?

the cognitive representation of a desired state Signup and view all the answers

Can the desired end state of a goal be clearly defined?

yes Signup and view all the answers

What underlies all our goals?

motivation Signup and view all the answers

What is motivation?

the psychological driving force that enables action in the pursuit of that goal Signup and view all the answers

What can intrinsic motivation stem from?

the benefits associated with the process of pursuing a goal Signup and view all the answers

What can extrinsic motivation come from?

the benefits associated with achieving a goal Signup and view all the answers

What motivates a student who works hard because learning is pleasing?

intrinsic motivation Signup and view all the answers

What motivates a student to get good grades?

extrinsic motivation Signup and view all the answers

What do social psychologists recognize about goal pursuit?

it does not solely depend on an individual's personality Signup and view all the answers

What are the products of goal pursuit and motivations?

personal characteristics and situational factors Signup and view all the answers

What can activate or prime a goal?

cues in a person's immediate environment Signup and view all the answers

What does conscious activation involve?

being aware of the environmental cues influencing goal pursuit Signup and view all the answers

What is nonconscious goal pursuit?

being unaware of why pursuing a goal Signup and view all the answers

What does commitment to a goal stem from?

the sense that a goal is both valuable and attainable Signup and view all the answers

One's commitment = the of the goal × the __ it will be achieved.

value / expectancy Signup and view all the answers

What can the process of committing to a goal occur without?

much conscious deliberation Signup and view all the answers

How do people learn about themselves?

by observing their behaviors Signup and view all the answers

What intrinsic motivation might someone feel while working on a Mars mission?

the desire to have a fulfilling experience Signup and view all the answers

After a kickboxing class, what might you infer about your own commitment?

you are committed to staying physically fit Signup and view all the answers

What influences adherence to a goal in any given context?

cues in the immediate environment Signup and view all the answers

What might people sometimes order to keep up with dietary goals?

a salad Signup and view all the answers

How is each goal connected?

to other goals, concepts, and behaviors Signup and view all the answers

What do each goal have corresponding to help achieve it?

means Signup and view all the answers

What can cues related to a goal activate?

the pursuit of that goal Signup and view all the answers

What happens to motivation after goal priming?

it peaks then slowly declines Signup and view all the answers

What influence does the presence of a training partner have?

it can activate the goal of staying fit Signup and view all the answers

What aspects can the activation of a goal influence?

behavior and judgment Signup and view all the answers

What fundamental aspect can motivational states alter?

visual perception Signup and view all the answers

What can goals exert strong influence on?

how people evaluate objects and people Signup and view all the answers

What do individuals striving to quench their thirst rate more positively?

the glass Signup and view all the answers

How do people evaluate goal-relevant objects?

more positively than those not relevant Signup and view all the answers

What effect can achievement-related words have on performance?

better performance on a subsequent achievement test Signup and view all the answers

What can priming a goal lead to?

behaviors without awareness Signup and view all the answers

What does self-regulation refer to?

the process of altering perceptions, feelings, and actions in pursuit of a goal Signup and view all the answers

What is one way someone might alter their actions to assist goal attainment?

filling up on fruits at a dessert party Signup and view all the answers

What must a person decide in the deliberative phase of self-regulation?

which of many potential goals to pursue Signup and view all the answers

What mindset fosters effective assessment of goals?

an effective assessment mindset Signup and view all the answers

What occurs in the second stage of self-regulation?

planning specific actions related to the goal Signup and view all the answers

One tends to be _ and about available goals to pursue.

open-ended and realistic Signup and view all the answers

What can scrutiny of one's choices sometimes hinder?

action Signup and view all the answers

What should be considered when deliberating on a goal?

realistic obstacles Signup and view all the answers

What two distinct self-regulatory orientations are distinguished?

prevention and promotion Signup and view all the answers

What mindset does a person have in the implemental phase?

conducive to effective implementation Signup and view all the answers

What might one do to follow a health goal?

register for a gym membership and start exercising Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes prevention-focused individuals regarding their goals?

they view goals as something they should be doing Signup and view all the answers

What does a prevention focus emphasize?

safety, responsibility, and security needs Signup and view all the answers

How do promotion-focused individuals view their goals?

as something they want to do Signup and view all the answers

What does a promotion focus view goals as?

ideals Signup and view all the answers

What kind of strategy does promotion lead to?

an eager strategy concerned with approaching gains Signup and view all the answers

Why do promotion-focused people save money?

to have extra funds for new activities Signup and view all the answers

Why do prevention-focused people save money?

because they believe it's what they should be doing Signup and view all the answers

What will emphasize potential losses motivate?

individuals with a prevention focus Signup and view all the answers

What will emphasizing potential gains motivate?

individuals with a promotion focus Signup and view all the answers

What does self-regulation depend on?

feelings from comparing actual progress to expected progress Signup and view all the answers

What happens after determining the gap in self-regulation?

the person acts to close that gap Signup and view all the answers

What does the discrepancy relate to in goal pursuit?

current state and desired end state Signup and view all the answers

What creates a signal of positive feelings in the cybernetic process?

higher-than-expected rate of closing the discrepancy Signup and view all the answers

What negative feelings may lower the rate of closing the gap?

negative feelings Signup and view all the answers

How might you feel if nearly finished with a project?

good about yourself Signup and view all the answers

What do positive feelings tend to make individuals do?

reduce efforts on the focal goal Signup and view all the answers

What results from perceived value and attainability of a goal?

commitment Signup and view all the answers

How might you feel the day before a project's due?

anxious Signup and view all the answers

What can looking back on goal progress inform?

future behaviors and actions Signup and view all the answers

What does progress describe in goal pursuit?

reduced discrepancy Signup and view all the answers

What do people tend to prioritize after achieving a goal?

the pursuit of that goal Signup and view all the answers

What can happen when people interpret previous actions as a sign of progress?

balance between the goal and other goals Signup and view all the answers

What motivates individuals to continue behaving financially responsibly?

commitment to the goal of saving money Signup and view all the answers

What does greater confidence in commitment often lead to?

inferring progress rather than commitment from actions Signup and view all the answers

What might you feel if you view buying a sale item as progress toward saving money?

you can take a break from your goal Signup and view all the answers

What do we encounter in the pursuit of our goals?

other goals Signup and view all the answers

What is self-control?

the capacity to control impulses Signup and view all the answers

What does self-control involve?

altering perceptions, feelings, and actions Signup and view all the answers

What is a process requiring self-control during distractions?

reading a textbook Signup and view all the answers

How is self-control akin to a muscle?

it becomes drained by being used Signup and view all the answers

What leads to greater cognitive and social competence throughout life?

persistent capacity to postpone immediate gratification Signup and view all the answers

What did researchers find about children who could wait longer for a treat?

performed better academically and socially Signup and view all the answers

What can deplete individuals of resources during goal pursuit?

previous exertion of self-control Signup and view all the answers

What does ego-depletion refer to?

exhaustion of resources from resisting a temptation Signup and view all the answers

What were participants who resisted temptation in a study less likely to do?

persist at attempting an unsolvable puzzle Signup and view all the answers

What does exerting self-control reduce?

individuals' capacity for self-control in subsequent tasks Signup and view all the answers

What is vital for successful exercise of self-control?

identifying self-control conflict Signup and view all the answers

What is required to pursue goals in the presence of temptation?

identify impulses that need to be controlled Signup and view all the answers

What happens if you don't recognize contradictions to long-term goals?

you won't have a self-control conflict Signup and view all the answers

What do everyday temptations often seem to have?

minimal negative consequences Signup and view all the answers

When are people more likely to recognize self-control conflicts?

when they see choices as part of a broader pattern Signup and view all the answers

What do consistent temptations become when viewed in a broader context?

more problematic for long-term interests Signup and view all the answers

What increases the likelihood of conflict identification?

seeing current choices similar to future choices Signup and view all the answers

What does cognitive process involve in self-regulation?

decreasing the value of temptations Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Goals and Motivation

Behavior daily stems from numerous goals individuals aim to achieve.
A goal represents a desired outcome, revealing how individuals envision their ideal situations.
Goals may be clearly defined, like reaching Mars, or abstract, such as leading a healthy lifestyle.
Motivation underpins all goal-directed behaviors, acting as the psychological force driving actions toward goals.

Types of Motivation

Intrinsic motivation arises from the enjoyment of the goal pursuit itself, such as learning.
Extrinsic motivation stems from the benefits of achieving goals, like the prestige of being the first on Mars.

Goal Pursuit

Goal pursuit is influenced by both personality traits and external situational factors.
Environmental cues, like images or sounds, can activate or prime specific goals in an individual’s mind.
Activation of a goal can occur with conscious awareness or can be nonconscious, where individuals are unaware of their motivation.

Commitment to Goals

Commitment is linked to the perceived value and feasibility of reaching a goal; individuals prefer goals that promise positive outcomes.
The formula for commitment is the value of the goal multiplied by the expectancy of achieving it.
Commitment can develop without thorough deliberation, often leading individuals to learn about their preferences through observation of their own behaviors.

Environmental Influences

The immediate environment affects goal adherence, with situational cues renewing motivation and guiding goal-related behavior.
Goals are interconnected, often linked to means or actions aiding the attainment of those goals.

Motivation and Perception

Goal activation can significantly affect behavior perceptions, evaluations, and emotional responses.
Motivational states can alter fundamental aspects such as visual perception, influencing how individuals assess their environment and its relevance to their goals.

Self-Regulation and Control

Self-regulation involves adjusting perceptions, feelings, and actions towards a goal.
Self-control allows individuals to manage impulses and desires to align with long-term goals, like health or financial stability.
Self-control operates like a muscle; it can be fatigued through use but strengthened over time.

Development of Self-Control

Research indicates persistent self-control leads to better cognitive and social outcomes over a lifetime.
Individuals who exhibit higher self-control in childhood tend to perform better socially and academically in adolescence.

Self-Control Conflicts

Identification of self-control conflicts is crucial to navigating temptations; if individuals fail to recognize links between actions and long-term goals, they risk deviating from their objectives.
Successful goal pursuit amid temptation involves recognizing impulses that require management.

Behavioral Strategies

Cognitive strategies include diminishing the allure of temptations while enhancing the value of goal-consistent actions.
Precommitment strategies, such as leaving credit cards at home, help curb temptations.
Behavioral approaches might involve establishing rewards for goal achievement and penalties for indulgence, reinforcing self-discipline.

Influence of Goals on Behavior

The pursuit of goals can shape individuals’ evaluations and attitudes toward their surroundings, altering perceptions positively or negatively based on goal relevance.
People often reinterpret previous actions as indicators of commitment or progress, which affects future behaviors toward their goals.

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Description

This quiz features flashcards focusing on the concepts of motives and goals in psychology. Each card presents a key term or definition related to how we set and perceive our goals. Ideal for anyone studying psychology or looking to enhance their understanding of motivation theories.