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Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Vol. 24, No. 5, 546-557 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/0146167298245010
© 1998 Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc.

Not all Personal Goals are Personal: Comparing Autonomous and Controlled Reasons for Goals as Predictors of Effort and Attainment

Kennon M. Sheldon

University of Rochester, psycks showme.missouri.edu.

Andrew J. Elliot

University of Rochester

Even when goals are self-generated, they may not feel truly "personal," that is, autonomous and self-integrated. In three studies (one concurrent and two prospective), we found that the autonomy of personal goals predicted goal attainment. In contrast, the strength of "controlled" motivation did not predict attainment. Studies 2 and 3 validated a mediational model in which autonomy led to attainment because it promoted sustained effort investment. In Study 3, the Goal Attainment Scaling methodology was used to provide a more objective measure of goal attainment, and additional analyses were performed to rule out expectancy, value, and expectancy x value explanations of the autonomy-to-attainment effects. Results are discussed in terms of contemporary models of volition and self-regulation.


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