When opportunity knocks: bottom-up priming of goals by means and its effects on self-regulation.
Four studies using general attribute goals or specific task goals revealed that attainment means cognitively activate the goals they are perceived to serve. A range of means replicated this effect including goal-directed activities, specific behavioral strategies, or opportunities, assumed to afford effective goal pursuit. The increased accessibility of a currently pursued goal due to "bottom-up" priming by its attainment means improved task persistence and performance, whereas a similarly increased accessibility of a competing goal impeded task persistence and performance.
Shah
James Y
JY
Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 53706, USA. jshah@facstaff.wisc.edu
Kruglanski
Arie W
AW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires