Goals

Abstract

Our thoughts, actions, and feelings are all closely related to our goals. Goals are the manifestation of the things we consider important, the things we believe we are able to accomplish and also the competences we strive to acquire. Psychological research on goals analyzes the determinants and processes of goal selection, goal realization, and disengagement from goals as well as the cognitive representation of goal-related concepts. Important theoretical approaches include classical expectancy-value models (goal selection), modern theories of self-regulation (goal realization and goal disengagement), and social-cognitive theories (cognitive representation of goals). Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies examine all kinds of different goals ranging from experimentally induced goals in laboratory settings to personal goals in everyday life.