Aiming at a Moving Target: Theoretical and Methodological Considerations in the Study of Intraindividual Goal Conflict between Personal Goals

Abstract

Multiple-goal pursuit and conflict between personal life-defining goals can be considered part of everyday business in most individuals' lives. Given the potentially detrimental effects of goal conflict—for example, impaired well-being or poor performance—the literature on goal conflict is surprisingly scattered due to heterogeneous methodological approaches and technical terms. Little empirical research has addressed the conceptualization of goal conflict against the background of differing understandings from a structure-like and a process-like perspective. In the present article, we outline theoretical foundations of goal conflict from two perspectives: a structure- and a process-like perspective. Based on a comparative analysis and integration of these two perspectives, we systematically review empirical studies on goal conflict over 30 years of research. In doing so, we identify and discuss important conceptual dimensions of goal conflict, namely, goal conflict as a cognitive construct and an experiential instance, a focus on goal interrelations or on specific goal properties, and resource vs. inherent conflict, and the potential of these distinctions to further research on goal conflict. Finally, we present major challenges and pose questions that need to be addressed by future research.

Teaching and research: Specificity and congruence of university faculty achievement goals

“…We suggest that more similar goals between both domains are more functional. However, following Hofer and Fries (2016), it would also be possible to expect that pursuing strong goals in both domains (opposed to only pursuing strong goals in one domain, but not the other) might, beyond the compatibility of individual goals, as a function of resource conflicts, cause more goal conflictions that could in turn negatively affect achievement and well-being (see Gorges & Grund, 2017). We believe that this latter perspective is more relevant for rather disjoint achievement contexts, such as school and leisure time, and consider the former perspective most helpful in closer and more overlapping contexts, such as teaching and research.…”

Adults with conflicting or facilitating goals differ in adherence‐related self‐regulatory factors and exercise over time

“…Research should also examine the likelihood, value, and satisfaction with positive outcomes to better understand if and when these dimensions relate to exercise when individuals are initiating and then maintaining exercise while pursuing facilitating or conflicting goals (Kwasnicka et al, ; Rothman, ). Finally, while social cognitive theory offers one theoretical approach for studying the relationships between concurrent goals, future research would benefit from considering goal dynamics using alternative, complementary approaches (e.g., Gorges & Grund, ; Hirschi, Shockley, & Zacher, ; Unsworth, Yeo, & Beck, ).…”

Moving Beyond Two Goals: An Integrative Review and Framework for the Study of Multiple Goals

“…E. Miller, 1944). More recent research differentiates conflicts based on the source of conflict: limited resources or inherently clashing values (Gorges & Grund, 2017; McCallum et al, 1979). Resource conflicts are characterized by limited resources such as time and money (e.g., not enough money to both buy a car and go on a vacation; Riediger & Freund, 2004).…”