Goal cycle: motivational and emotional antecedents and consequences of goal progress

Abstract

Even though goal pursuit is often conceptualized as a linear phenomenon, it consists of feedback loops and reciprocal relationships between its crucial components. To investigate this cyclical aspect, we tested the relationships between core goal properties (i.e., goal importance and expectancy of success) as well as goal-related emotions (satisfaction and stress) and goal progress over time. In longitudinal Study 1 (N = 390), across three waves and 3156 unique goals, we found that progress on personal goals was not only positively predicted by expectancy and, less consistently, by goal importance, but also by goal-related satisfaction and, to a lesser extent, stress. Moreover, goal progress positively predicted future progress through increased importance, increased expectancy, and increased satisfaction and negatively through decreased stress, indicating an overall self-reinforcing feedback loop. In Study 2 (N = 235), we experimentally manipulated subjective progress on the weekly goal of walking and observed its positive effects on goal importance, expectancy, and satisfaction, but not stress. Once again, we demonstrated a positive indirect effect of (manipulated) goal progress on subsequent progress via increased satisfaction. These results provide insight into the mechanisms of goal-pursuit viewed as a cyclic process.

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