Title |
Forcing your luck: Goal-striving behavior in chance situations
|
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Published in |
Motivation and Emotion, December 2015
|
DOI | 10.1007/s11031-015-9527-5 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Daniela Becker, Joop van der Pligt |
Abstract |
Previous research suggests that desired end-states (i.e., goals) initiate a set of motivational processes supporting goal-attainment. For example, motivational intensity (e.g., effort investment) increases as distance to the goal decreases. The present studies investigate whether this goal-gradient can also be observed in chance determined situations, situations in which there is a desired end-state (i.e., winning) but in which increased effort investment does not support goal-attainment. Three studies provide consistent evidence for the goal-gradient in chance determined situations. We show that participants (in the lab and in a TV game show) invest more effort into goal-directed behavior the closer they get to the end of the game. The moderation of expectancy and value was, however, modest. Interestingly, participants' self-reports suggest that their dynamic changes in behavior were unintentional and perceived as non-instrumental. Findings are related to theories of goal pursuit and illusory control, and contrasted to the principle of resource conservation, according to which such behavior should not occur. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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India | 2 | 33% |
Netherlands | 1 | 17% |
Germany | 1 | 17% |
Unknown | 2 | 33% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 3 | 50% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 2 | 33% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 17% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 28 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 7 | 25% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 3 | 11% |
Student > Master | 3 | 11% |
Researcher | 2 | 7% |
Student > Bachelor | 1 | 4% |
Other | 3 | 11% |
Unknown | 9 | 32% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Psychology | 9 | 32% |
Neuroscience | 2 | 7% |
Mathematics | 1 | 4% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 1 | 4% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 1 | 4% |
Other | 4 | 14% |
Unknown | 10 | 36% |