On the experience of goals: Differentiating goal‐generic value from goal‐specific value

Abstract

We distinguish between goal‐specific value, which refers to the intrinsic and extrinsic benefits associated with a particular goal (“value derived from the goal”), and goal‐generic value, which refers to the benefits associated with having, pursuing, or completing a goal in general (“value derived from a goal”). Motivation theory and research have traditionally, if tacitly, sought to explain decision‐making (e.g., What to prioritize? How much to invest?) based on goal‐specific value. But several goal‐related decision regularities are not easily explained by accounting for goal‐specific value alone, such as online workers choosing a lower‐paying assignment (over a higher‐paying assignment) if it allows them to complete the last step in a sequence and college students electing to do more work sooner (rather than less work later) if it provides them closure. Accounting for goal‐generic value—such as the positive experiences of purpose, progress, closure, and accomplishment—offers additional insight into people's decisions. More generally, auditing goals in a way that accounts for both goal‐specific value and goal‐generic value is crucial for understanding goal pursuits.