When intentions go public: does social reality widen the intention-behavior gap?

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Goal Pursuit
• Identity Formation

Background:

• Lewinian goal theory provides a framework for understanding motivation and behavior.
• Self-completion theory suggests individuals strive to attain desired identities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how social acknowledgment of identity-related behavioral intentions affects action.
• To explore the mediating role of premature identity possession in this process.

Main Methods:

• Four experiments were conducted, examining participants' intentions to achieve specific identities.
• Methods included field studies of persistent striving and laboratory tasks assessing immediate action.
• Participant commitment to identity goals was also assessed.

Main Results:

• Identity-related intentions noticed by others were acted upon less intensely than those ignored.
• This effect was observed in both long-term striving and immediate action opportunities.
• The effect was significant for individuals with strong commitment to their identity goals.

Conclusions:

• Social attention to identity intentions can paradoxically reduce behavioral enactment.
• This occurs because social notice can create a premature sense of having achieved the desired identity.
• Understanding this dynamic is crucial for effective goal pursuit and identity development.