Motivation by positive or negative role models: regulatory focus determines who will best inspire us.
In 3 studies, the authors demonstrated that individuals are motivated by role models who encourage strategies that fit their regulatory concerns: Promotion-focused individuals, who favor a strategy of pursuing desirable outcomes, are most inspired by positive role models, who highlight strategies for achieving success; prevention-focused individuals, who favor a strategy of avoiding undesirable outcomes, are most motivated by negative role models, who highlight strategies for avoiding failure. In Studies 1 and 2, the authors primed promotion and prevention goals and then examined the impact of role models on motivation. Participants' academic motivation was increased by goal-congruent role models but decreased by goal-incongruent role models. In Study 3, participants were more likely to generate real-life role models that matched their chronic goals.
Lockwood
Penelope
P
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. lockwood@psych.utoronto.ca
Jordan
Christian H
CH
Kunda
Ziva
Z
D000124:Achievement; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009864:Ontario; D012449:Safety; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D012938:Social Perception