Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Motivating behavioral persistence: the self-as-doer construct.

Linda Houser-Marko1, Kennon M Sheldon

  • 1University of Missouri-Columbia, 65211, USA.

Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|July 25, 2006
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Beyond reductionism: Understanding motivational energization requires higher-order constructs.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2025
Same author

The free will capacity: A uniquely human adaption.

The American psychologist·2024
Same author

Cultural Differences in the Hedonic Rewards of Recalling Kindness: Priming Cultural Identity with Language.

Affective science·2022
Same author

The Glow Still Shows: Effects of Facial Masking on Perceptions of Duchenne Versus Social Smiles.

Perception·2021
Same author

Duchenne Smiles as Honest Signals of Chronic Positive Mood.

Perspectives on psychological science : a journal of the Association for Psychological Science·2021
Same author

Using Social Network Sites to Boost Savoring: Positive Effects on Positive Emotions.

International journal of environmental research and public health·2020
Same journal

Metacognitive and Interpersonal Intellectual Humility Are Asymmetrically Associated with Well-Being.

Personality & social psychology bulletin·2026
Same journal

Intergroup Contact and Belonging Among Ethiopian Jews in Ethiopia.

Personality & social psychology bulletin·2026
Same journal

A Taxonomy of Data Synthesis.

Personality & social psychology bulletin·2026
Same journal

When and Why Beliefs About the Causes of a Policy Problem Predict Policy Support.

Personality & social psychology bulletin·2026
Same journal

Prospects of Downward Mobility Cause Status Anxiety and Life Dissatisfaction.

Personality & social psychology bulletin·2026
Same journal

Fluency as a Cue to Authenticity.

Personality & social psychology bulletin·2026
See all related articles

Identifying as a "self-as-doer" enhances goal persistence and achievement. This identity, even when temporarily activated, boosts sustained motivation through challenges and setbacks.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Motivation Science
  • Social Psychology

Background:

  • Understanding sustained motivation is crucial for goal attainment.
  • Individual differences in persistence despite boredom and setbacks remain a key research question.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Introduce and validate the "self-as-doer" construct.
  • Examine the relationship between self-as-doer identity and goal persistence.
  • Investigate methods to enhance self-as-doer accessibility for improved motivation.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal studies (Studies 1 & 2) assessed self-as-doer endorsement and goal outcomes.
  • Controlled for relevant motivational constructs like expectancy, self-concordance, commitment, and neuroticism.
  • Experimental study (Study 3) used priming techniques to manipulate self-as-doer accessibility.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Stronger endorsement of "self-as-doer" statements predicted greater behavioral persistence and goal attainment.
  • The effect of self-as-doer identity on persistence remained significant after controlling for other factors.
  • Priming a "self-as-doer" mindset, particularly through inspirational narratives applied personally, enhanced persistence in demanding tasks.

Conclusions:

  • The "self-as-doer" construct offers a novel perspective on sustained motivation.
  • Fostering a "self-as-doer" identity can be a valuable strategy for improving goal pursuit and achievement.
  • Findings have broad implications for enhancing motivation across various domains.