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Cited by 1,343Behavioral Health and InterventionsGrit, Self-Efficacy, and MotivationDecision-Making and Behavioral Economics

Implementation intentions and effective goal pursuit.

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Gollwitzer, Peter M., Brandstätter, Veronika·1997·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
DOI 10.1037/0022-3514.73.1.186
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Abstract

The theoretical distinction between goal intentions ("I intend to achieve -c") and implementation intentions ("I intend to perform goal-directed behavior y when I encounter situation z"; P. M. Gollwitzer, 1993) is explored by assessing the completion rate of various goal projects. In correlational Study 1, difficult goal intentions were completed about 3 times more often when participants had furnished them with implementation intentions. In experimental Study 2, all participants were assigned the same difficult goal intention, and half were instructed to form implementation intentions. The beneficial effects of implementation intentions paralleled diose of Study 1. In experimental Study 3, implementation intentions were observed to facilitate the immediate initiation of goaldirected action when the intended opportunity was encountered. Implementation intentions are interpreted to be powerful self-regulatory tools for overcoming the typical obstacles associated with the initiation of goal-directed actions.

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  • Due to this link, the action is executed immediately, efficiently, independent of conscious intent and with reduced controllability.

    “Due to this link, the action is executed immediately, efficiently, independent of conscious intent and with reduced controllability (Bayer et al., 2009; Brandstätter et al., 2001; Gollwitzer & Brandstätter, 1997; Wieber & Sassenberg, 2006).”

    From The effectiveness of implementation intentions in children: A systematic review and meta‐analysis (2026) · cites this paper as Gollwitzer & Brandstätter, 1997

    In “How Do Implementation Intentions Promote Goal Pursuit?” (page unavailable), the paper says the situation–behavior link can initiate action swiftly, effortlessly, and without a conscious intent; Study 3 reports more immediate action initiation. It does not establish reduced controllability. The “Similarities and Differences of Related Approaches Planning” section leaves open whether implementation intentions reduce flexibility. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • Implementation intentions and mental contrasting are particularly useful.

    “particularly useful are for example implementation intentions and mental contrasting (Gollwitzer & Brandstätter, 1997;Oettingen & Mayer, 2002).”

    From Understanding and Treating Procrastination: A Review of a Common Self-Regulatory Failure (2014) · cites this paper as Gollwitzer & Brandstätter, 1997

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2 of the 60 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Bargh, J. A., & Gollwitzer, P.M. (1994). Environmental control of goal-directed action. In W. Spaulding (Ed.), Nebraska Symposium on Motivation: Integrative views of motivation, cognition, and emotion (Vol. 41, pp. 71-124). Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
  2. Heckhausen, H. (1989). Motivation und Handeln [Motivation and ac- tion]. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer-Verlag.
  3. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 8, pp. 193-232). New York: Academic Press.

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Authors
Gollwitzer, P. M., & Brandstätter, V.
Affiliations
University of Konstanz (DE)
Corresponding author
Gollwitzer, Peter M.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
1997-07
Volume
73
Issue
1
Pages
186-199
ISSN
  • 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1315
DOI
10.1037/0022-3514.73.1.186
OpenAlex
W2158545087
Cited by
1,343
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 68 · 2020: 90 · 2019: 66 · 2018: 54 · 2017: 60 · 2016: 56 · 2015: 53 · 2014: 68 · 2013: 44 · 2012: 60
FWCI
34.67
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc-nd
Locations
  • Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • KOPS (University of Konstanz) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Grit, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
Keywords
implementation intentions, goal intentions, goal pursuit, self-regulation, goal-directed behavior, task completion

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