Matches between assigned goal-types and both implicit and explicit motive dispositions predict goal self-concordance

Abstract

Some individuals feel strong conviction and interest in pursuing personal goals, and minimal pressure and compulsion (i.e., they feel more ‘‘self-concordant’’ in their goal pursuits). Sheldon and colleagues argue that this is because their goals well match their implicit personalities (Sheldon, Pers Soc Psychol Rev 18:349–365, 2014). We evaluated this claim in a new way by first measuring participants’ implicit and explicit Need for Affiliation and Need for Achievement (using the Picture Story Exercise and the Personality Research Form), then randomly assigning them to list and pursue either Relationship or Competence goals during the semester, then measuring the rated self-concordance of the resultant goals. We tested four goal-type by motive-type interactions as predictors of rated self-concordance, finding good support for three of the interaction hypotheses and suggestive support for the fourth. It appears that the self-concordance measure indeed assesses ‘‘fit’’ between personal goals and both implicit and explicit motives.