A Process Analysis of Autonomous vs. Controlling Performance Goal Complexes (Poster 2)

• In Event: Thursday Poster Session 9:00 am
  In Poster Session: Motivational Beliefs, Context, and Consequences

Abstract

According to the “Goal Complex Model,” an achievement goal’s effects depend on why students pursue it. The model’s evidence comes almost exclusively from survey studies, which show that a goal predicts healthier outcomes when pursued for autonomous reasons (e.g., enjoyment) than controlling reasons (e.g., pressure). The present two experiments provide a causal test. Each induced an autonomous or controlling performance goal (vs. a no-goal control) for participants to pursue on easy and hard problem-solving tasks. Process analyses show that only the controlling performance goal was harmful: it caused higher immediate threat appraisals, which begat greater worry during the task and worse performance. The autonomous performance goal matched the control group on all measures. Implications for goal theory will be considered.

Author

• Corwin Senko, SUNY - College at New Paltz