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When opportunity knocks: bottom-up priming of goals by means and its effects on self-regulation
James Y Shah1, Arie W Kruglanski
1Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 53706, USA. jshah@facstaff.wisc.edu
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|June 10, 2003
Abstract:
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.