[Usefulness and significance of King's theory of goal attainment]
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal
Published on: April 18, 2017
Inácia Sátiro Xavier de França1, Lorita Marlena Freitag Pagliuca
1Universidade Estadual da Paraíba.
Abstract:
The present research focuses on the analysis model of three theories: Meleis Theory, Goal Achievement Theory (King, 1981) and on a study by Silveira. Its objective is to analyze the usefulness and social significance of King's Theory. After a comprehensive reading of the theories mentioned, the excerpt "Theory Criticism" was selected from Melei's model to serve as the analytical support. The study "To be naked in the intensive therapy unit: perceptions and an encounter" (Silveira, 1996), which has as its theoretical framework the theories mentioned above, was chosen. Through critical analysis, and based on the interaction of those constructs, we concluded that: King's Theory is useful in research because it propitiates perception and interpretation of objective-subjective data from concrete reality. Its social significance is related to the application of the theory by representatives of several social segments. It encourages re-socialization of people and groups aiming at a more humane and solidary world.
Related Concept Videos
Robbers Cave
Theory of Attribution II: Kelley's Covariation Theory
Cognitive Learning
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
Drive-Reduction Theory: Push Theory of Motivation
Incentive Theory: Pull Theory of Motivation
The theory differentiates between intrinsic and...
Self-Discrepancy Theory
