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Problem-Solving Before Instruction (PS-I): A Protocol for Assessment and Intervention in Students with Different Abilities

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Published on: September 11, 2021

Basic personality dispositions, self-esteem, and personal goals: an approach-avoidance analysis.

Sara A Heimpel¹, Andrew J Elliot, Joanne V Wood

¹Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Journal of Personality

|September 9, 2006

Summary

High self-esteem is linked to fewer avoidance goals. Self-esteem also mediates the relationship between personality traits, like neuroticism and approach/avoidance temperaments, and personal goals.

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Published on: September 27, 2020

Area of Science:

Psychology
Personality Psychology
Social Psychology

Background:

Self-esteem is a key component of psychological well-being.
Personal goals reflect desired future states and guide behavior.
Temperament, encompassing approach and avoidance tendencies, influences goal pursuit.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the predictive relationship between self-esteem and personal goals, specifically avoidance versus approach goals.
To examine whether self-esteem mediates the link between temperament (approach/avoidance) and personal goals.
To explore these relationships across different personality indicators and in the achievement domain.

Main Methods:

Three studies were conducted to test the hypotheses.
Study 1 controlled for social desirability to assess the self-esteem-goal relationship.
Studies 2 and 3 utilized personality measures, including Neuroticism, Behavioral Activation System (BAS), and Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) sensitivity, to test mediation models.

Main Results:

Self-esteem was found to be a negative predictor of avoidance (relative to approach) personal goals.
Self-esteem mediated the relationship between Neuroticism (avoidance temperament) and personal goals.
Self-esteem also mediated the link between BAS/BIS sensitivity and personal goals in the achievement domain.

Conclusions:

Findings support the hypothesis that higher self-esteem is associated with fewer avoidance goals.
Self-esteem plays a mediating role in how basic personality dispositions translate into personal goal orientations.
These results enhance understanding of the interplay between personality, self-esteem, and goal pursuit.