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Goal constructs in psychology: Structure, process, and content.

Austin, James T., Vancouver, Jeffrey B.·1996·Psychological Bulletin

DOI 10.1037/0033-2909.120.3.338

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Goal-Focused Leadership, Leader-Member Exchange, and Task Performance: The Moderating Effects of Goal Orientations and Emotional Exhaustion
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More than one way to persist: Unpacking the nature of salesperson persistence to understand its effects on performance
Chaker, N. N., Zablah, A. R., & Noble, C. H. (2018) · Industrial Marketing Management · doi:10.1016/j.indmarman.2018.01.002 · Cited by 36
No Need to Worry? Anxiety and Coping in the Entrepreneurship Process
Thompson, N., van Gelderen, M., & Keppler, L. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00398 · Cited by 36
Meaning in Life Among Patients With Chronic Pain and Suicidal Ideation: Mixed Methods Study
Costanza, A., Chytas, V., Piguet, V., Luthy, C., Mazzola, V., Bondolfi, G., & Cedraschi, C. (2021) · JMIR Formative Research · doi:10.2196/29365 · Cited by 36
“Furthermore, goal pursuit behaviors, conceptualized as “internal representations of desired states, where states are broadly construed as outcomes, events, or processes” [46], could also be impacted by chronic pain.”
Background
Specific Factors Underlying Reemployment Self-Efficacy
Westaby, J. D., & Braithwaite, K. N. (2003) · The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science · doi:10.1177/0021886303261234 · Cited by 36
“From a motivational perspective, motivational reasons may also reflect people’s multiple goals underlying their intentions (Austin & Vancouver, 1996).”
Background
Why we should talk about option generation in decision-making research
Kalis, A., Kaiser, S., & Mojzisch, A. (2013) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00555 · Cited by 38
“An influential definition by Austin and Vancouver (1996) states that goals are: “internal representations of desired states, where states are broadly construed as outcomes, events, or processes.”
Background
Process in skill acquisition: motivation, interruptions, memory, affective states, and metacognition
Langan‐Fox, J., Armstrong, K., Balvin, N., & Anglim, J. (2002) · Australian Psychologist · doi:10.1080/00050060210001706746 · Cited by 36
“…or state orientation often has a task-irrelevant focus that detracts from plan execution and increases the likelihood of helplessness effects (Austin & Vancouver, 1996), while action-oriented individuals focus their attention on activities related to the immediate task, and experience…”
Background
Projectuality versus eventuality: Sullivan, the (ambivalent) intentionalist.
Shahar, G. (2011) · Journal of Psychotherapy Integration · doi:10.1037/a0022909 · Cited by 35
Why do people sit? A framework for targeted behavior change
ten Broeke, P., Gardner, B., Beckers, D. G. J., Geurts, S. A. E., & Bijleveld, E. (2022) · Health Psychology Review · doi:10.1080/17437199.2022.2143851 · Cited by 36
“To understand why people do or do not perform stand-to-sit and sit-to-stand transitions, we need to consider the goals that people attempt to achieve by such transitions (Austin & Vancouver, 1996; Vallacher & Wegner, 1987).”
BackgroundInfluential
Design for person-environment interaction in older age: a gerontechnological perspective
Bouwhuis, D. G. (2003) · Gerontechnology · doi:10.4017/gt.2003.02.03.002.00 · Cited by 35
Testing boundary conditions of the ideomotor hypothesis using a delayed response task
Shin, Y. K., & Proctor, R. W. (2012) · Acta Psychologica · doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2012.09.008 · Cited by 35
“Hierarchical depiction of goals is found in the area of artificial intelligence (e.g., Butz, Sigaud, Pezzulo, & Baldassarre, 2007), and both macro- and micro-descriptions of goals and corresponding outcomes have been ubiquitous in psychology (Austin & Vancouver, 1996).”
Intrinsische und extrinsische Lebensziele
Klusmann, U., Trautwein, U., & Lüdtke, O. (2005) · Diagnostica · doi:10.1026/0012-1924.51.1.40 · Cited by 43
Changing Behavior Using Integrated Theories
Hagger, M. S., & Hamilton, K. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108677318.015 · Cited by 44
Motivating Revisions of Management Accounting Systems: An Examination of Organizational Goals and Accounting Feedback
Thomas, T. F. (2013) · Accounting Organizations and Society · doi:10.1016/j.aos.2016.07.001 · Cited by 39
The Evidence-Based Conceptual Model of Transactional Analysis: A Focused Review of the Research Literature
Vos, J., & van Rijn, B. (2021) · Transactional Analysis Journal · doi:10.1080/03621537.2021.1904364 · Cited by 41
“Goals are most effective when they are important (Austin & Vancouver, 1996; Moskowitz, 2012), specific, simple (Locke, 2002; Webb et al., 2012), not too far in the future (Locke & Latham, 2002), challenging (Locke & Latham, 2002; Wiese, 2007), attainable (Emmons et al., 1986), Sheldon & Elliot,…”
A Process Perspective on Adaptive Performance: Research Insights and New Directions
Jundt, D. K., & Shoss, M. K. (2023) · Group & Organization Management · doi:10.1177/10596011231161404 · Cited by 54
“Indeed, Austin and Vancouver (1996) suggest that adjustment to new task environments is an ideal paradigm for examining the impact of goal striving and self-regulatory cognitions and behaviors.”
Background
Task Importance Effects on Prospective Memory Strategy Use
Penningroth, S. L., & Scott, W. D. (2013) · Applied Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1002/acp.2945 · Cited by 36
Communicative Responses to Problematic Events in Close Relationships II
Samp, J. A., & Solomon, D. H. (1999) · Communication Research · doi:10.1177/009365099026002005 · Cited by 35
The Adaptive Change Model: An Advance on the Transtheoretical Model of Change
Bowles, T. (2006) · The Journal of Psychology · doi:10.3200/jrlp.140.5.439-457 · Cited by 37
“Austin and Vancouver (1996) provided a comprehensive list of theories associated with intentional change.”
Background
Implementation Planning as a Pathway Between Goal Motivation and Goal Progress for Academic and Physical Activity Goals1
Carraro, N., & Gaudreau, P. (2011) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2011.00795.x · Cited by 41
Predicting Quality of Work Life: From Work Conditions to Self-Regulation
Pomaki, G., & Maes, S. (2002) · Social indicators research series · doi:10.1007/978-94-010-0271-4_9 · Cited by 36
Do we need to reconsider best practice in goal setting for physical activity promotion?
Swann, C., & Rosenbaum, S. (2017) · British Journal of Sports Medicine · doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-098186 · Cited by 35
Patients’ Outcome Expectations Matter in Psychological Interventions for Patients with Diabetes and Comorbid Depressive Symptoms
Snippe, E., Schroevers, M. J., Annika Tovote, K., Sanderman, R., Emmelkamp, P. M. G., & Fleer, J. (2015) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-014-9667-z · Cited by 34
“This assumption is based on the general idea that high expectations may induce persistent effort to achieve a goal whereas low expectations may result in disengagement from desired goals (Austin and Vancouver 1996; Carver and Scheier 1998).”
Background
Comparing Online and Face-to-Face Student Counselling: What Therapeutic Goals Are Identified and What Are the Implications for Educational Providers?
Hanley, T., Erşahin, Z., Sefi, A., & Hebron, J. (2016) · Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools · doi:10.1017/jgc.2016.20 · Cited by 37
“Therapeutic goals have been described as the ‘internal representations of desired states’ (Austin & Vancouver, 1996, p. 338).”
Background
Translating Informal Theories Into Formal Theories: The Case of the Dynamic Computational Model of the Integrated Model of Work Motivation
Vancouver, J. B., Wang, M., & Li, X. (2018) · Organizational Research Methods · doi:10.1177/1094428118780308 · Cited by 34
“In particular, the general notion in goal theories is that performance is regulated via a negative feedback function (e.g., Austin & Vancouver, 1996; Bandura, 1986; Locke & Latham, 1990).”
BackgroundSelf-citation
Goal-Directed Allostasis: The Unique Challenge of Keeping Things as They Are and Strategies to Overcome It
Ecker, Y., & Gilead, M. (2018) · Perspectives on Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/1745691618769847 · Cited by 34
“In fact, common definitions describe the process of goal pursuit as the attempt to reduce the gap between one’s current and desired states (Austin & Vancouver, 1996; Elliot & Fryer, 2008; Förster, Liberman, & Friedman, 2007; Kruglanski, 1996), precluding an analysis of GDA.”
Background
Cognitive coping, goal self-efficacy and personal growth in HIV-infected men who have sex with men
Kraaij, V., Garnefski, N., Schroevers, M. J., van der Veek, S., Witlox, R., & Maes, S. (2008) · Patient Education and Counseling · doi:10.1016/j.pec.2008.04.007 · Cited by 34
“Goals can be deﬁned as internal representations of desired outcomes [12].”
Background
Consumer (goal) satisfaction: A means‐ends chain approach
Orsingher, C., Marzocchi, G. L., & Valentini, S. (2011) · Psychology and Marketing · doi:10.1002/mar.20409 · Cited by 34
Relationships among properties of college students’ self-set academic goals and academic achievement
Acee, T. W., Cho, Y., Kim, J.-I., & Weinstein, C. E. (2012) · Educational Psychology · doi:10.1080/01443410.2012.712795 · Cited by 40
“Researchers have also found that the impacts of goals on learning and achievement are dependent on a variety of goal properties (Austin & Vancouver, 1996), including the specificity and difficulty of students’ goals (Gollwitzer, 1999; Gollwitzer & Sheeran, 2006; Kane, Baltes, & Moss, 2001; Locke &…”
Background
Wealth, consumption and happiness
Ahuvia, A. (2008) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511490118.009 · Cited by 34
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Zheng, X., Li, N., Harris, T. B., & Liao, H. (2017) · Journal of Management · doi:10.1177/0149206316687642 · Cited by 36
Die Rolle von Zielen für die Entwicklung
Freund, A. M. (2003) · Psychologische Rundschau · doi:10.1026//0033-3042.54.4.233 · Cited by 39
Know Your Preferences: Self-Regulation as Need-Congruent Goal Selection
Grund, A., Fries, S., & Rheinberg, F. (2018) · Review of General Psychology · doi:10.1037/gpr0000159 · Cited by 34
“The importance of goals for self-regulation is highlighted in many theories (Austin & Vancouver, 1996; Brunstein, 1993; Emmons, 1986; Locke & Latham, 1990).”
Background
Risky Resilience and Resilient Risk: The Key Role of Intentionality in an Emerging Dialectics
Shahar, G., Elad‐Strenger, J., & Henrich, C. C. (2012) · Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1521/jscp.2012.31.6.618 · Cited by 33
Linking goal self-concordance and affective reactions to goal conflict
Gorges, J., Esdar, W., & Wild, E. (2014) · Motivation and Emotion · doi:10.1007/s11031-014-9392-7 · Cited by 38
“In addition, because goal importance and goal attainability could also contribute to people’s affective reactions to goal conflict (Austin and Vancouver 1996), we included these goal properties in our analyses.”
Background
Age Differences in Expected Satisfaction with Life in Retirement
Gutierrez, H. C., & Hershey, D. A. (2014) · The International Journal of Aging and Human Development · doi:10.2190/ag.78.2.a · Cited by 33
Do Both Intrinsic and Identified Motivations Have Long-Term Effects?
Liu, Y., Hau, K., & Zheng, X. (2019) · The Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1080/00223980.2018.1516611 · Cited by 33
“Evidence has suggested that identified motivation positively predicted academic achievement (Austin & Vancouver, 1996; Burton, Lydon, D’Alessandro, & Koestner, 2006) and did so better than intrinsic motivation in some studies (Austin & Vancouver, 1996; Koestner & Losier, 2002).”
Background
Careers in context: An international study of career goals as mesostructure between societies' career‐related human potential and proactive career behaviour
Andresen, M., Apospori, E., Gunz, H. P., Suzanne, P. A., Taniguchi, M., Lysova, E. I., Adeleye, I., Babalola, O., Bagdadli, S., Bakuwa, R. C., et al. (2019) · Human Resource Management Journal · doi:10.1111/1748-8583.12247 · Cited by 44
“Deciphering why this is the case requires a focus on understanding employees' career goals, “the internal representation of desired outcomes” (Austin & Vancouver, 1996: 338), towards which employees direct their effort in their pursuit of career success and that guide their career decisions.”
Background
Value-based decision making: An interactive activation perspective.
Suri, G., Gross, J. J., & McClelland, J. L. (2019) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/rev0000164 · Cited by 39
The Development of Life Goals Across the Adult Life Span
Buchinger, L., Richter, D., & Heckhausen, J. (2021) · The Journals of Gerontology Series B · doi:10.1093/geronb/gbab154 · Cited by 50
Integrating explanations of tax evasion and avoidance
Braithwaite, V. A., & Wenzel, M. (2008) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511490118.013 · Cited by 33
Goal choices and planning: Distinct expectancy and value effects in two goal processes
Sun, S., Vancouver, J. B., & Weinhardt, J. M. (2014) · Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes · doi:10.1016/j.obhdp.2014.09.002 · Cited by 38
Self-citation
Beliefs about stressors alter stressors’ impact: Evidence from two experience-sampling studies
Daniels, K., Hartley, R., & Travers, C. J. (2006) · Human Relations · doi:10.1177/0018726706069768 · Cited by 33
“A goal is an internal representation of desired states (Austin & Vancouver, 1996).”
Environmental “Vitamins”, Personal Judgments, Work Values, and Happiness
Warr, P. B. (2009) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199211913.003.0004 · Cited by 35
What Day Is Today? A Social–Psychological Investigation Into the Process of Time Orientation
Jonas, K. J., & Huguet, P. (2008) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167207311202 · Cited by 32
“All of these goals can be described abstractly as desired end states (Austin & Vancouver, 1996).”
Background
Anticipating their future
Finlay, A. K., Wray‐Lake, L., Warren, M. T., & Maggs, J. L. (2014) · International Journal of Behavioral Development · doi:10.1177/0165025414544231 · Cited by 32
“…part of a family of future-oriented cognitive constructs that include the related phenomena of future time perspective (Nuttin & Lens, 1985), goals (Austin & Vancouver, 1996), aspirations (Beal & Crockett, 2010), expectations (Gottfredson, 1981), future orientation (Nurmi, 1991), and possible…”
Background
Do other goals influence physical activity? A systematic review examining the relationship between other goals and physical activity behavior
Rhodes, R. E., Quinlan, A., & Mistry, C. D. (2016) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.08.033 · Cited by 36
Cognitive dissonance in food and nutrition – A conceptual framework
Ong, A., Frewer, L. J., & Chan, M. (2016) · Trends in Food Science & Technology · doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2016.11.003 · Cited by 34
Bernese motive and goal inventory in exercise and sport: Validation of an updated version of the questionnaire
Schmid, J., Gut, V., Conzelmann, A., & Sudeck, G. (2018) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0193214 · Cited by 33
“Personal goals, in turn, are defined as cognitive representations of events, states and processes, which an individual wants to achieve, maintain or avoid [10,11].”
Background
A Systematic Review of Validation Practices for the Goal Attainment Scaling Measure
Shankar, S., Marshall, S. K., & Zumbo, B. D. (2019) · Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment · doi:10.1177/0734282919840948 · Cited by 32
“As noted by Austin and Vancouver (1996), proliferation of various aspects of the goal construct makes its examination problematic, which is evidenced in this review.”
BackgroundInfluential
Sustainable Development in Teacher Education in Terms of Being Solution Oriented and Self-Efficacy
Akça, F. (2019) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su11236878 · Cited by 32
“Goals are at the heart of solution-oriented practice as an internal representation of desired situations or outcomes [30].”
Background
Why Do We Need Media Multitasking? A Self-Regulatory Perspective
Popławska, A., Szumowska, E., & Kuś, J. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.624649 · Cited by 42
Velocity as a Predictor of Performance Satisfaction, Mental Focus, and Goal Revision
Elicker, J. D., Lord, R. G., Ash, S. R., Kohari, N. E., Hruska, B. J., McConnell, N. L., & Medvedeff, M. E. (2009) · Applied Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.1464-0597.2009.00409.x · Cited by 35
A conceptual model of investor behavior
Lovrić, M., Kaymak, U., & Spronk, J. (2010) · Institution of Engineering and Technology eBooks · doi:10.1049/pbce071e_ch13 · Cited by 33
“Goals are in the broad sense defined as mental (internal) representations of desired states (Austin and Vancouver, 1996), and here we study preferences, objectives, and constraints. Custers and Aarts (2005) summarize modern theories of motivation and goal-directed behavior: ”the probability that a given goal state is…”
Background
The adoption of approach versus avoidance goals: The role of goal-relevant resources
Schnelle, J., Brandstätter, V., & Knopfel, A. (2010) · Motivation and Emotion · doi:10.1007/s11031-010-9173-x · Cited by 32
“On a more general level, the present paper contributes to the literature on goals as a core functional unit in self-regulation (e.g., Austin and Vancouver 1996; Brunstein 1993; Carver and Scheier 1998; Emmons 1986; Locke and Latham 1990; Oettingen and Gollwitzer 2004).”
Background
Bidding Behavior in Descending and Ascending Auctions
Cheema, A., Chakravarti, D., & Sinha, A. R. (2012) · Marketing Science · doi:10.1287/mksc.1120.0730 · Cited by 32
“Just as consumption goals influence various phases of consumer decision making (Austin and Vancouver 1996), the goal that a bidder brings into the auction may influence the evolution of bidder values and bids (whether consciously or nonconsciously).”
Background
New Frontiers for Self‐Regulation Research in IO Psychology
Wood, R. E. (2005) · Applied Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.1464-0597.2005.00204.x · Cited by 32
Implicit Religion and the Meaning Making Model
Park, C. L. (2011) · Implicit Religion · doi:10.1558/imre.v14i4.405 · Cited by 32
Reference-Dependent Preferences: Evidence from Marathon Runners
Allen, E. J., Dechow, P., Pope, D. G., & Wu, G. (2014) · National Bureau of Economic Research · doi:10.3386/w20343 · Cited by 35
Changing Behavior Using the Transtheoretical Model
DiClemente, C. C., & Graydon, M. M. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108677318.010 · Cited by 35
Friend or foe? Can anthropomorphizing self-tracking devices backfire on marketers and consumers?
Fronczek, L. P., Mende, M., Scott, M. L., Nenkov, G. Y., & Gustafsson, A. (2022) · Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science · doi:10.1007/s11747-022-00915-1 · Cited by 34
Predicting Work Outcomes From Religiosity and Perceived Calling
Horvath, M. J. (2015) · The Career Development Quarterly · doi:10.1002/cdq.12010 · Cited by 31
Systematic development of a self-regulation weight-management intervention for overweight adults
van Genugten, L., van Empelen, P., Flink, I. J. E., & Oenema, A. (2010) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/1471-2458-10-649 · Cited by 32
“g [15,16]) describe sub-behaviours that are necessary to establish and maintain changes in complex behaviours.”
BackgroundMethod
The Use of Bright and Dark Types of Humour is Rooted in the Brain
Papousek, I., Ruch, W., Rominger, C., Kindermann, E., Scheidl, K., Schulter, G., Fink, A., & Weiss, E. M. (2017) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep42967 · Cited by 31
“Levels of education were: less than high school (29), high school graduate (19), university degree (4).”
Background
Development and validation of the openness to the future scale: a prospective protective factor
Botella, C., Molinari, G., Fernández‐Álvarez, J., Guillén, V., García‐Palacios, A., Baños, R., & Tomás, J. M. (2018) · Health and Quality of Life Outcomes · doi:10.1186/s12955-018-0889-8 · Cited by 33
“The OF construct is consistent with expectancy-value theories [70, 71] that encompass two premises: (a) the behavior reflects the pursuit of goals, and (b) the confidence that a goal can be achieved reflects a positive expectancy about future Fig.”
Background
Anxiety and the dynamic self as defined by the prospection and mental simulation of looming future threats
Riskind, J. H., & Calvete, E. (2019) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/jopy.12465 · Cited by 36
The Power of Emotional Benefits: Examining the Role of Benefit Focus on Donation Behavior
Moran, N., & Bagchi, R. (2019) · Journal of Advertising · doi:10.1080/00913367.2019.1602857 · Cited by 31
“Given that goal-directed models contribute greatly to the understanding of consumer behavior, goal-based theories (see Austin and Vancouver 1996) could further inform understanding of how benefit type affects donations, and these should be considered in future research.”
Background
Goal prioritization and behavior change: Evaluation of an intervention for multiple health behaviors.
Conner, M. T., Wilding, S., Prestwich, A., Hutter, R. R. C., Hurling, R., van Harreveld, F., Abraham, C., & Sheeran, P. (2022) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/hea0001149 · Cited by 31
“Health goals are pursued during the same time periods and using the same resources as the myriad of other goals for which a person strives (Abraham & Sheeran, 2003; Austin & Vancouver, 1996; Lowe et al., 2017).”
Background
Rethinking Motivation Goals for Adolescents: Beyond Achievement Goals
Mansfield, C. F. (2012) · Applied Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.1464-0597.2012.00506.x · Cited by 33
Willing and Able
van Dijke, M., Cremer, D. D., Brebels, L., & Quaquebeke, N. V. (2013) · Journal of Management · doi:10.1177/0149206313478187 · Cited by 32
“…relies on self-regulatory processes that enable people to initiate goal-directed action, adapt to changing situations, shield goal-directed action from distractions, and temporarily disengage from a goal when the situation requires this (e.g., Austin & Vancouver, 1996; gollwitzer & Sheeran, 2006).”
BackgroundInfluential
Goal Conflicts: Concepts, Findings, and Consequences for Psychotherapy
Michalak, J., Heidenreich, T., & Hoyer, J. (2003) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9780470713129.ch5 · Cited by 30
Goal-Driven Cognition in the Brain: A Computational FrameworkPreprint
O’Reilly, R. C., Hazy, T. E., Mollick, J., Mackie, P., & Herd, S. A. (2014) · arXiv (Cornell University) · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1404.7591 · Cited by 54
“…behavior (Zeigarnik, 1927Lewin, 1928Tolman, 1932Tolman, 1948Miller, Galanter, & Pribram, 1960Powers, 1973Klinger, 1975Gollwitzer, 1993) (see Austin & Vancouver, 1996 for a thorough review, and the other references mentioned above on active work in areas outside of cognitive neuroscience).”
Background
Goal agreement and relationship quality among college students and their parents
Morton, L. C., & Markey, P. M. (2009) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2009.07.015 · Cited by 30
“Such a general definition of goals has been utilized by past researchers to examine the structure and content of goals as well as the implications of goal choice, pursuit, and attainment or failure (e.g., Austin & Vancouver, 1996; King, Richards, & Stemmerich, 1998; Locke, Shaw, Saari, & Latham, 1981).”
BackgroundMethod
Nonconscious self-regulation, or the automatic pilot of human behavior.
Papies, E. K., & Aarts, H. (2011) · Cited by 30
Digital Knowledge Ecosystem for Achieving Sustainable Agriculture Production: A Case Study from Sri Lanka
Ginige, A., Walisadeera, A. I., Ginige, T., Silva, L. D., Giovanni, P. D., Mathai, M., Goonetillake, J. S., Wikramanayake, G. N., Vitiello, G., Sebillo, M., et al. (2016) · IEEE International Conference on Data Science and Advanced Analytics (DSAA) · doi:10.1109/dsaa.2016.82 · Cited by 30
“In the study of human motivation, meaningful goals have been identified as the key contributing factor to the long-term levels of well-being [27-30].”
Health Education and Health Promotion: Key Concepts and Exemplary Evidence to Support Them
de Vries, H., Kremers, S., & Lippke, S. (2018) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-0-387-93826-4_17 · Cited by 39
Changing Behavior Using the Health Belief Model and Protection Motivation Theory
Orbell, S., Zahid, H., & Henderson, C. J. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108677318.004 · Cited by 35
Kinds of behaviour
Aunger, R. V., & Curtis, V. A. (2008) · Biology & Philosophy · doi:10.1007/s10539-007-9108-4 · Cited by 30
Religious motivations for everyday goals: their religious context and potential consequences
Martos, T., Kézdy, A., & Horváth‐Szabó, K. (2011) · Motivation and Emotion · doi:10.1007/s11031-010-9198-1 · Cited by 30
“…subjective meaning of actions, providing a link between the central aspects of the self, like personality dispositions, core values and unconscious motives, and the challenges and possibilities presented by the environment (Austin and Vancouver 1996; Emmons 1996; Karoly 1993; Little 2007).”
Background
Social Motivation across the Life Span
Lang, F. R. (2003) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511499852.014 · Cited by 30
Assistive digital technology to promote quality of life and independent living for older adults through improved self-regulation: a scoping review
Kocjan, G. Z., Špes, T., Svetina, M., Plohl, N., Smrke, U., Mlakar, I., & Musil, B. (2022) · Behaviour and Information Technology · doi:10.1080/0144929x.2022.2149423 · Cited by 37
“First, models of self-regulation focus on the concept of goals and goal setting (de Ridder and de Wit 2006), which then guide people ’ s behaviour (Austin and Vancouver 1996).”
Method
A comprehensive taxonomy of prompt engineering techniques for large language models
Liu, Y., Zheng, Z., Zhang, F., Feng, J.-C., Fu, Y.-Y., Zhai, J., He, B., Zhang, X., & Du, X. (2025) · Frontiers of Computer Science · doi:10.1007/s11704-025-50058-z · Cited by 41
The Motivating Power of Visionary Images: Effects on Motivation, Affect, and Behavior
Rawolle, M., Schultheiss, O. C., Strasser, A., & Kehr, H. M. (2016) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/jopy.12285 · Cited by 30
“Personal goals (i.e., cognitive representations of desired future states; Austin & Vancouver, 1996) as well as goal priming differ from visionary images with regard to both picture-like representation and identity relevance.”
Background
How Consumers' Political Ideology and Status-Maintenance Goals Interact to Shape Their Desire for Luxury Goods
Kim, J. C., Park, B., & Dubois, D. (2018) · Journal of Marketing · doi:10.1509/jm.17.0059 · Cited by 29
Goal Identification Before Spinal Cord Stimulation: A Qualitative Exploration in Potential Candidates
Goudman, L., Bruzzo, A., van de Sande, J. W., & Moens, M. (2019) · Pain Practice · doi:10.1111/papr.12845 · Cited by 29
“Goals are internal representations of desired states, something that a patient is working towards.(11)”
Background
Career Stagnation: Underlying Dilemmas and Solutions in Contemporary Work Environments
Abele, A. E., Volmer, J., & Spurk, D. (2012) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-007-4059-4_7 · Cited by 34
Optimism as the moderator of the relationship between fragility of happiness beliefs and experienced happiness
Joshanloo, M., Park, Y. O., & Park, S. H. (2016) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.10.039 · Cited by 29
Participatory educational design: How to improve mutual learning and the quality and usability of the design?
Janssen, F. J. J. M., Könings, K. D., & van Merriënboer, J. J. G. (2017) · European Journal of Education · doi:10.1111/ejed.12229 · Cited by 30
“Therefore in the fields of personality and social psychology, the question of how people ’ s goal systems direct their actions, both consciously and unconsciously, has increasingly gained attention from the 1980s on (Austin & Vancouver, 1996; Carver & Scheier, 2001; Fishbach & Ferguson, 2007).”
Background
A conceptualisation of task dimensions affecting escalation of commitment
Karlsson, N., Juliusson, Á., & Gärling, T. (2005) · The European Journal of Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1080/09541440540000004 · Cited by 30
“Goal is defined as a representation of desired outcomes, events, or processes (Austin & Vancouver, 1996).”
Background
A cross-media content analysis of motivational themes in direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising.
Sumpradit, N., Ascione, F., & Bagozzi, R. (2004) · Clinical Therapeutics · doi:10.1016/s0149-2918(04)90014-8 · Cited by 31
Individual Differences in Approach and Avoidance
Strauman, T. J., & Wilson, W. A. (2010) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781444318111.ch20 · Cited by 29
Mental distress through the prism of predictive processing theory
Van de Cruys, S., & Van Dessel, P. (2021) · Current Opinion in Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.07.006 · Cited by 28
Coworker Narcissism: Employee Emotional and Behavioral Reactions as Moderated by Bottom-Line Mentality and Trait Competitiveness
Greenbaum, R. L., Gray, T. W., Hill, A., Lima, M., Royce, S. S., & Smales, A. A. (2022) · Journal of Management · doi:10.1177/01492063221132791 · Cited by 30
“…like to ful ﬁ ll. ” A count of the total goals listed was used to capture intended work-goal progress, with past research demonstrating that listing goals can serve as a signi ﬁ - cant indication of intentions to make progress toward one ’ s goals (e.g., Austin & Vancouver, 1996; Schunk, 1990).”
Method
The role of goal pursuit in the interaction between psychosocial work environment and occupational well-being
Hyvönen, K., Feldt, T., Tolvanen, A. J., & Kinnunen, U. M. (2009) · Journal of Vocational Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2009.10.002 · Cited by 34
Rehabilitation goal setting with community dwelling adults with acquired brain injury: a theoretical framework derived from clinicians’ reflections on practice
Prescott, S., Fleming, J., & Doig, E. (2017) · Disability and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1080/09638288.2017.1336644 · Cited by 28
“Goals influence human performance and action and rely on convoluted cognitive and emotional neural processes [5,48,49].”
Background
Emotion regulation goals: An individual difference perspective
Eldesouky, L., & Gross, J. J. (2019) · Social and Personality Psychology Compass · doi:10.1111/spc3.12493 · Cited by 40
The Acquisition of Person Knowledge
Anzellotti, S., & Young, L. (2019) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010419-050844 · Cited by 30
Changing Behavior by Changing Environments
Marteau, T. M., Fletcher, P. C., Hollands, G. J., & Munafo, M. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108677318.014 · Cited by 32
Personal Achievement Goals, Learning Strategies, and Perceived IT Affordances
Nevo, S., Nevo, D., & Pinsonneault, A. (2021) · Information Systems Research · doi:10.1287/isre.2021.1025 · Cited by 28
Development of moral identity: From the age of responsibility to adult maturity
Krettenauer, T. (2022) · Developmental Review · doi:10.1016/j.dr.2022.101036 · Cited by 41

Authors: Austin, J. T., & Vancouver, J. B.
Affiliations: The Ohio State University (US)
ORCID: Vancouver, Jeffrey B.
Venue: Psychological Bulletin
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 1996-11
Volume: 120
Issue: 3
Pages: 338-375
ISSN: 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
1939-1455
DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.120.3.338
OpenAlex: W2075289001
Semantic Scholar: 0539efa59c31b4c9b22f866f1b3c65eedb554856
Cited by: 2,319
References: 474
Citations by year: 2026: 62 · 2025: 76 · 2024: 76 · 2023: 224 · 2022: 90 · 2021: 108 · 2020: 148 · 2019: 93 · 2018: 89 · 2017: 110 · 2016: 93 · 2015: 117 · 2014: 85 · 2013: 94 · 2012: 118
FWCI: 23.42
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Education, Achievement, and Giftedness
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Cognitive and psychological constructs research
Keywords: goal setting, goal structure, goal content, motivation, achievement motivation

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