Ideal versus ought predilections for approach and avoidance: distinct self-regulatory systems

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Self-Regulation
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Self-guides, encompassing ideal (hopes, wishes) and ought (duty, responsibility) aspects, shape self-regulation.
• Understanding the distinct motivational tendencies associated with each self-guide is crucial for explaining goal pursuit and discrepancy management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the differential impact of ideal versus ought self-guides on self-regulatory strategies.
• To determine whether approach or avoidance motivations are more strongly linked to ideal or ought self-regulation.
• To explore how discrepancies with ideal and ought self-guides influence strategic choices in social contexts.

Main Methods:

• Two studies employed different experimental paradigms to activate either ideal or ought self-guides.
• Participants' engagement with approach (seeking desired states) and avoidance (preventing undesired states) self-regulation was measured.
• A third study examined strategy selection for friendship among individuals with ideal versus ought discrepancies.

Main Results:

• A greater concern with approach-based self-regulation was observed for the ideal self-guide condition.
• Conversely, a greater concern with avoidance-based self-regulation was found for the ought self-guide condition.
• Self-discrepancies influenced the choice of friendship strategies, aligning with approach or avoidance tendencies.

Conclusions:

• Ideal self-regulation is predominantly characterized by an approach orientation, focusing on achieving desired outcomes.
• Ought self-regulation is primarily characterized by an avoidance orientation, focusing on preventing undesired outcomes.
• These findings highlight the distinct motivational underpinnings of ideal and ought self-guides in shaping self-regulatory behavior.