Goal Competition, Conflict, Coordination, and Completion: How Intergoal Dynamics Affect Self-Regulation

On any given day, people have to negotiate the regulatory demands of mul-tiple goals. Should they wake up early and eat a leisurely breakfast or sleep in and be more rested for the day? Do they stop to put gas in their car before work or attempt to stay ahead of morning traffic? Should they work on long-term projects or instead focus their time on more pressing tasks? Do they eat a nutritious salad for lunch or eat the cheeseburger they have been craving? Should they take a trip to a sunny resort on their upcoming vacation time or instead stay home and complete some unfinished house repairs? Should they make plans to see friends this evening or catch up with Mom and Dad on the phone? If one were to take a snapshot of a person’s motivational state at any one moment, it would reveal the presence of numerous diverse goals forming a complex, interconnected network that drives behavior.

Duke Scholars

Author Grainne Fitzsimons Fuqua School of Business