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The adoption of approach versus avoidance goals: The role of goal-relevant resources

Schnelle, Jessica ; Brandstätter, Veronika ; Knöpfel, Annina

In: Motivation and Emotion, 2010, vol. 34, no. 3, p. 215-229

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    Title
    • The adoption of approach versus avoidance goals: The role of goal-relevant resources
    Author
    • Schnelle, Jessica. Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14/6, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Brandstätter, Veronika. Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14/6, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Knöpfel, Annina. Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14/6, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    Language
    • English
    Published in
    • Motivation and Emotion, 2010, vol. 34, no. 3, p. 215-229. Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com
    Other Version
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:311701
    Summary
    The present research investigated whether the adoption of approach versus avoidance goals is affected by goal-relevant resources. When individuals have few goal-relevant resources, they should prefer avoidance goals, whereas when individuals have many goal-relevant resources, they should adopt approach goals. The individual's outcome expectancy is assumed to mediate this relationship. This hypothesis is supported by the findings of four multi-method studies with student samples. A cross-sectional field study showed a positive relationship between the extent of goal-relevant resources and approach goal adoption. In a longitudinal field study, a high number of resources predicted the increase in personal approach goal adoption over a period of 4months, controlling for neuroticism. Two experiments showed that the manipulation of resources affected approach versus avoidance task goal adoption, with outcome expectancy mediating the relationship. These findings complement existing findings on dispositional determinants of approach versus avoidance goal adoption