Action crises and goal disengagement: Longitudinal evidence on the predictive validity of a motivational phase in goal striving.

Abstract

An action crisis has been defined as the decisional conflict between continuing and disengaging from the pursuit of a personal goal. In line with Klinger's (1975) theoretical ideas about an incentive-disengagement cycle and in line with mindset theory of action phases (Gollwitzer, 1990(Gollwitzer, , 2012, experiencing an action crisis has been related to cognitive and affective mechanisms assumed to facilitate the abandonment of a goal (e.g., symptoms of depression, reevaluation of the respective pros and cons). An action crisis' role in the prediction of goal disengagement, however, has not yet been empirically validated. In accordance with the theoretical conceptions, in a longitudinal study with n ϭ 207 freshman students over one and a half years, an action crisis, with respect to one's studies as well as 2 nonacademic personal goals, had a predictive effect on goal disengagement and, for the academic goal, progress (i.e., the total amount of accumulated credit points). Furthermore, a more severe action crisis was longitudinally associated with an earlier disengagement. All effects remained stable when controlling for goal desirability and attainability as well as an array of self-regulatory traits. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for self-regulation in personal goal striving.

The Seed of Goal-Related Doubts: A Longitudinal Investigation of the Roles of Failure and Expectation of Success Among Police Trainee Applicants

“…Future studies are needed to further investigate this moderating effect. Furthermore, because of the possible negative impact of goal-related doubts on well-being and performance (e.g., Brandstätter et al, 2013; Herrmann and Brandstätter, 2015), it is crucial to develop interventions that help individuals to prevent or cope with these doubts. To protect an individual from doubts after a setback, expectation of success may be increased via self-training or in coaching sessions.…”

Stuck in Limbo: Motivational Antecedents and Consequences of Experiencing Action Crises in Personal Goal Pursuit

“…The concept of action crises arises from Klinger's () notion that goal pursuit and goal disengagement are not discrete and mutually exclusive states. As such, action crises have been described as a transitional phase in goal striving where individuals find themselves torn between continued goal engagement and goal disengagement (Herrmann & Brandstätter, ). The decisional conflict associated with action crises is thought to precede goal disengagement, although not every action crisis necessarily results in goal disengagement.…”

“…Indeed, action crises can be overcome or resolved through perseverance and adaptations to the goal‐striving process (Herrmann & Brandstätter, ). Nevertheless, the severity of an action crisis has been shown to longitudinally predict the onset of disengagement, with more severe action crises tending to result in earlier goal disengagement (Herrmann & Brandstätter, ).…”

The Process of Disengagement From Personal Goals

“…Higher levels of action crisis are inferred when people, with respect to a goal to which they still feel committed, experience recurring doubts, repeated setbacks, implemental disorientation, goal-related rumination, disengagement impulses, and when they procrastinate (Brandstätter, Herrmann, & Schüler, 2013; Brandstätter & Schüler, 2013). Although an action crisis does not have to result in the abandonment of the goal, but may likewise be overcome by a renewal of commitment (e.g., if people identify new means to goal attainment), recent findings show that it usually precedes goal termination (Herrmann & Brandstätter, 2015). Consistent with Klinger’s (1975) reasoning, goal disengagement, in this approach, is regarded as a gradual process rather than a discrete event, which starts considerably before individuals give up on their goals (Brandstätter et al, 2013; Brandstätter & Schüler, 2013).…”