Effects of failure on subsequent performance: the importance of self-defining goals.
Extending R.A. Wicklund and P.M. Gollwitzer's (1982) self-completion theory, 2 experiments examined the role of self-defining goals in predicting performance effects of failure among students committed to professional goals such as becoming a physician (Experiment 1) or a computer scientist (Experiment 2). Results of Experiment 1 revealed that failure on a task characterized as being relevant to students' professional self-definition led to (a) enhanced performance on a subsequent task relevant to the same self-definition and (b) impaired performance on a subsequent task unrelated to the self-definition challenged through prior failure. Experiment 2 replicated these findings. In addition, performance effects due to self-definitional failure were annulled when participants experience intermittent social recognition for the aspired-to-self-definition.
Brunstein
J C
JC
Department of Psychology, University of Erlangen, Germany. brunstein@pc.psychologie.uni-erlangen.de
Gollwitzer
P M
PM
D000328:Adult; D001240:Aspirations, Psychological; D002321:Career Choice; D003201:Computers; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011340:Problem Solving; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology