Implementation Intentions and Goal Shielding
A large amount of research on implementation intentions has been conducted to further understand questions relating to the initiation of goal striving, (Gollwitzer & Sheeran, 2006) whereas the study of shielding of ongoing goal striving has been neglected in prior research.
One study to face this question is reported by Achziger, Gollwitzer and Sheeran (Achziger et al., 2008). It is shown that implementation intentions can even assist people to shield goal striving from unwanted thoughts and feelings, such as cravings for junk food and distracting thoughts. Two field experiments, concerning dieting (Study 1) and performance in sports (Study 2), have shown a significant positive influence of implementation intentions on protecting ongoing goal striving. Participants who formed implementation intentions were more successful with long-term dieting, as well as concentration and performance in a tennis match. "If-then-plans" focus on the prevention of distracting thoughts and an efficient accomplishment of cognitive, motivational and emotional barriers of goal striving.
As these studies were run in "everyday" situations outside of an artificial laboratory, they possess a high external validity and, thus, display the importance and meaningfulness of implementation intentions for everyday life.
Read more about this topic: Implementation Intention
Famous quotes containing the words intentions, goal and/or shielding:
“... if we look around us in social life and note down who are the faithful wives, the most patient and careful mothers, the most exemplary housekeepers, the model sisters, the wisest philanthropists, and the women of the most social influence, we will have to admit that most frequently they are women of cultivated minds, without which even warm hearts and good intentions are but partial influences.”
—Mrs. H. O. Ward (1824–1899)
“To enumerate the different trades by which the women in New York are endeavoring—not to live—that for many of them is as utterly unattainable a goal as the end of the rainbow—but simply to postpone as long as possible their appearance at the morgue or the cemetery—to attempt to do this would be useless.”
—Katharine Pearson Woods (1853–1923)
“The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly, is to fill the world with fools.”
—Herbert Spencer (1820–1903)