Dark Horse Running: The Role of Affect in Goal Pursuit and Goal Termination among Pessimists
Year: 2010
Type: article
Abstract: According to the goal priority hypothesis (Geers, Wellman, & Lassiter, 2009), dispositional optimists outperform dispositional pessimists when pursuing valued and important goals.Although recent studies have supported this hypothesis, the results have been limited to conscious goal pursuit.The current research argues that distinguishing between conscious and nonconscious goal pursuit is critical when considering the cognitive and behavioral engagement of optimists and pessimists.Specifically, it is proposed that this advantage of optimists over pessimists in goal pursuit is largely confined to conscious goals.Consistent with the behavioral self-regulation model (Carver & Scheier, 1998), it is argued that negative affect arising from pursuit of difficult conscious goals leads one to reassess the probability of goal obtainment.As pessimists anticipate a low likelihood of success, this negative affect leads to goal disengagement (a v
Author: Justin A. Wellman
Institution: University of Toledo
Language: English
Subfield: Applied Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2505695011