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- Title
When intentions go public: does social reality widen the intention-behavior gap?
- Authors
Gollwitzer, Peter M; Sheeran, Paschal; Michalski, Verena; Seifert, Andrea E
- Abstract
Based on Lewinian goal theory in general and self-completion theory in particular, four experiments examined the implications of other people taking notice of one's identity-related behavioral intentions (e.g., the intention to read law periodicals regularly to reach the identity goal of becoming a lawyer). Identity-related behavioral intentions that had been noticed by other people were translated into action less intensively than those that had been ignored (Studies 1-3). This effect was evident in the field (persistent striving over 1 week's time; Study 1) and in the laboratory (jumping on opportunities to act; Studies 2 and 3), and it held among participants with strong but not weak commitment to the identity goal (Study 3). Study 4 showed, in addition, that when other people take notice of an individual's identity-related behavioral intention, this gives the individual a premature sense of possessing the aspired-to identity.
- Publication
Psychological science, 2009, Vol 20, Issue 5, p612
- ISSN
1467-9280
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02336.x