The DOI matches its Crossref record; 58 of the 60 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Implementation intentions and effective goal pursuit.
Open accessAbstract
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 (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
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Implementation intentions are only effective for difficult‐to‐implement goals that demand substantial self‐regulation (Gollwitzer & Brandstätter, 1997; Wieber et al., 2010).”
From The effectiveness of implementation intentions in children: A systematic review and meta‐analysis (2026) · cites this paper as Gollwitzer & Brandstätter, 1997
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“For healthy children with well‐developed self‐regulatory capacities, implementation intention effects are only to be expected if the task is difficult enough to demand self‐regulation (Gollwitzer & Brandstätter, 1997; Wieber et al., 2010).”
From The effectiveness of implementation intentions in children: A systematic review and meta‐analysis (2026) · cites this paper as Gollwitzer & Brandstätter, 1997
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“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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Cites
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“Numerous other relevant aspects of goal content have been suggested, such as specific-abstract (Emmons, 1992; Locke & Latham, 1990), proximal-distal (Bandura & Schunk, 1981), and positive versus negative outcome focus (Higgins, Roney, Crowe, & Hymes, 1994).”
Background
Research works printed but not linked: 3
- 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.
- Heckhausen, H. (1989). Motivation und Handeln [Motivation and ac- tion]. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer-Verlag.
- In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 8, pp. 193-232). New York: Academic Press.
Cited by
Metadata
- Authors
- Gollwitzer, P. M., & Brandstätter, V.
- Affiliations
- University of Konstanz (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Gollwitzer, Peter M.
- Venue
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
- Published
- 1997-07
- Volume
- 73
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 186-199
- ISSN
- 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1315
- 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
- green
- nbn-resolving.de
- 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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