Goals, achievement strivings and

their relation to emotional problems

Peter Horvath Department of Psychology Acadia University
2008

Achievement Needs

Achievement striving is a good thing! People high on the need for achievement have high goals and standards People high on the need for achievement like challenges and feedback on their efforts Achievement needs lead to curiosity and exploration High achievement oriented students strive for good grades Success at achievement leads to self-esteem!

Self-Regulation

People control their achievement behaviors and emotions through self-regulation:

People have goals, and act on them They receive feedback from the environment They compare the feedback with their goals They use this feedback to make adjustments to their behavior to be able to better reach their goals

People Have Different Types of Goals

Goal Hierarchy

Our goals are arranged in a hierarchy from highest to lowest levels At the top are the more general and abstract goals (e.g., values and core needs) Lower level goals are more specific and concrete goals (e.g., appearance, material things, fame, school marks) More general or higher-level goals regulate or control lower-level goals and behaviors

Ideal self-image (System concept) Be thoughtful (Principle)

Highest-level goal 1 C1 Input 1

Buy flowers for Linda (Program) Output for 2 and goal 3 C2 C3 Input 3

Output for 1 and goal 2

Input 2

Output: execution of program

Three-level hierarchy of feedback systems

Self-Esteem

Self-esteem tends to be among our highest goals and needs Most people pursue self-esteem, one way or another People pursue self-esteem by meeting goals and standards Low self-esteem or self-worth is associated with negative affect and depression

Core Needs

We also have core needs These core needs include: autonomy, competence, and relatedness These are like intrinsic interests and goals They are located at the top of goal hierarchies They guide lower level goals and actions Meeting core needs leads to emotional well-being

Intrinsic Goals

When we do something because we are intrinsically interested in it

When we study because we are interested in the topic When we do something because we like it, that protects us from uncertainties and the hurt of bad outcomes Pursuit of goals for their intrinsic interests leads to emotional wellbeing

Extrinsic Goals

Often we strive for concrete goals located at lower levels of the goal hierarchy This is similar to the pursuit of extrinsic goals and interests (e.g., school marks, appearance, social approval, wealth, fame)

Extrinsic goals are often parts of contingencies of worth (criteria we use to merit self-worth)
Such lower-level goals can expose us to the uncertainties of changing fortunes

Comparator
Self-regulation occurs by using an evaluator component called the comparator
The comparator evaluates or compares the feedback we get from the environment (input) with goals and standards Adjustments to the output are made by the individual to reduce discrepancies between goals and input High-level loops based on goals and comparisons set the goals for the loops directly below them

Emotions

In self-regulation theory, emotions are signals to individuals about their rate of progress toward their goals Positive emotions arise when there is progress towards our goals Negative emotions arise when there is no progress towards goals

Disengaging from Goals

Normally, individuals eventually abandon or disengage from goals that cannot be attained

Consistent failure at reaching some goal would eventually lead to the abandonment of such a goal
This makes good sense in that personal resources are not depleted in the pursuit of unobtainable goals Disengaging from goals that no longer work prevents further emotional problems

Goals and Emotional Problems

sometimes relentless pursuit of goals can lead to stress and emotional problems

Type A Behavior

In Type A behavior, the individual pursues success and control in a compulsive way Type A personalities become very stressed when their goals are thwarted

Difficulties to Disengage from Goals

Sometimes individuals cannot disengage from their goals after failure experiences
The goals are too important to them to give up

One reason for this might be that they have few other goals to switch to as substitutes
The goals may be important to their self-esteem or identity This leads to further stress and emotional turmoil

Intrinsic Goals and Well-Being

Pursuing intrinsic goals leads to long-term well-being Pursuit of goals we truly like leads to more stable and permanent outcomes When we study for the sake of learning (rather than marks), it protects us for the uncertainties of bad outcomes Some of the higher-level needs (autonomy, family relations, spirituality) are like intrinsic goals

Extrinsic Goals and Well-Being

Lower-level or concrete goals can expose us to the uncertainties of changing events
This is like the pursuit of extrinsic goals and interests (e.g., school marks, appearance, social approval, wealth, fame, etc.) Extrinsic goals are used in contingencies of worth Using extrinsic types of goals leads to short-term wellbeing

Pressure to Adopt Extrinsic Goals

Modern society pressures us to adopt extrinsic goals (e.g., fame, money, material goods, etc.) But we become distressed and unhappy when we can no longer achieve our extrinsic goals Pursuing our self-worth based on extrinsic goals makes our selfesteem transient and unstable In spite of increasing standard of living in our society, the rate of depression keeps going up

Self-esteem as a Consequence

Contingencies of worth are criteria that can determine our self-worth Extrinsic and lower-level goals in the goal hierarchy are used in contingencies of worth The consequences of meeting contingencies of worth is self-esteem So as long as we can meet our contingencies of worth, we are fine Problem occurs when we are unable to meet our contingencies of worth The consequence of not meeting our contingencies of worth is low selfesteem

Low Self-Esteem and Depression

Depression: Low self-esteem leads to emotional problems like depression Depressives seem to be preoccupied with the direct pursuit of self-worth or self-validation

Effects of Low Self-Esteem

Validation Seeking as a Paradox:

Low self-esteem can lead to the direct pursuit of self-worth
This is called validation seeking goal orientation Validation seekers are preoccupied with pursuing self-worth But this predisposes people to further stresses and emotional problems

Two Motivational Orientations

Growth Seeking Orientation is focus on the task:
- pursuing activities for their own sake - has beneficial effects in the long-term - associated with self-esteem

Validation Seeking Orientation is focus on protecting our self-worth:

- often through external achievement feedback or approval - can have long-term detrimental effects - can lead to stress and anxiety

Two Learning Orientations

Research on learning has described two types of learning orientations:

1. Mastery oriented learning 2. Performance oriented learning

Learning Orientation Effects

Mastery oriented learning is focused on the task:
- sees learning as a challenge - learning for its own sake - has beneficial effects in the long-term - associated with self-esteem and emotional well-being

Performance oriented learning is focused on protecting self-esteem (e.g., through achievement or approval):
- an ego defensive orientation - can have long-term detrimental effects - short term learning benefits

Control of Our Self-Esteem

Control over our self-esteem is important to our wellbeing

We often seek self-esteem through meeting extrinsic goals in contingencies of worth

Control over our self-esteem is difficult to do through the pursuit of extrinsic goals Lack of control over self-esteem leads to emotional problems, such as depression

Summary

The benefits of pursuing extrinsic goals only lasts while we are successful
Pursuing higher level goals and core needs directly (e.g., self-esteem) can be counter productive Core needs can best be satisfied indirectly, by pursuing intrinsic goals and values

Some Conclusions

Emotional disorders reflect difficulties with the control and regulation of self-esteem The control of self-esteem is important for our long-term well-being When we pursue intrinsic goals, we satisfy our core needs When we pursue intrinsic goals, we are more likely to be happy and have control over our self-worth

Thank You!