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Published on: October 3, 2020
Avoidance goal pursuit depletes self-regulatory resources
Daniela Oertig1, Julia Schüler, Jessica Schnelle
1University of Zurich, Switzerland.
Journal of Personality
|November 7, 2012
Summary
Pursuing avoidance goals depletes self-regulatory resources, both concurrently and over time. This depletion mediates the negative impact of avoidance goals on subjective well-being, highlighting a self-regulatory vulnerability.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Self-Regulation Research
Background:
- The strength model of self-regulation is a growing area of research.
- Empirical evidence linking daily goal pursuit to self-regulatory resource depletion is limited.
- The specific impact of avoidance goals on self-regulation requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between avoidance goals and self-regulatory resource depletion.
- To examine both concurrent and longitudinal effects over a one-month period.
- To explore resource depletion as a mediator between avoidance goals and subjective well-being.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted with Caucasian participants.
- Study 1 involved 283 participants examining concurrent and longitudinal relations.
- Study 2 involved 132 participants, also examining concurrent and longitudinal relations and mediation.
- Data were collected over a one-month period.
Main Results:
- Both studies found a negative concurrent and longitudinal relationship between avoidance goals and self-regulatory resources.
- Study 2 demonstrated that self-regulatory resource depletion mediates the negative association between avoidance goals and subjective well-being.
- Results were independent of neuroticism.
Conclusions:
- Avoidance goal pursuit is linked to the depletion of self-regulatory resources.
- This depletion negatively impacts subjective well-being.
- Avoidance goals represent a significant vulnerability in self-regulation over time.
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