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. 2011 Apr 1;20(2):119-123.
doi: 10.1177/0963721411402666.

General Action and Inaction Goals: Their Behavioral, Cognitive, and Affective Origins and Influences

Dolores Albarracin  1 , Justin Hepler, Melanie Tannenbaum
Affiliations

General Action and Inaction Goals: Their Behavioral, Cognitive, and Affective Origins and Influences

Dolores Albarracin et al. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. .

Abstract

Since the 1970s, researchers on motivation and behavior have taken the stance that important human behaviors are determined by specific attitudes, intentions, and goals. In the present article, we review evidence suggesting that, in addition to specific motivational constructs, general goals of action and inaction are also vital determinants of many important human behaviors. This research examines the effects of these goals on motor behavior, cognitive performance, and political participation. Furthermore, we connect these general action and inaction goals with other important areas in psychology, including affect, approach/avoidance, energization, material resources, mindsets, and power. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of individual and regional/cultural differences in action and inaction. Overall, general goals for action and inaction are shown to influence a vast array of important behaviors, suggesting that in addition to considering specific attitudes, intentions, and goals, researchers may gain important insight into human behavior by considering general motivations.

Keywords: action; goals; inaction; motivation.

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References

    1. Aarts H, Custers R, Holland RW. The nonconscious cessation of goal pursuit: When goals and negative affect are coactivated. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2007;92:165–178. - PubMed
    1. Albarracin D, Handley I, Noguchi K, McCulloch K, Li H, Leeper J, et al. Increasing and decreasing motor and cognitive output: A model of general action and inaction goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2008;95:510–523. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Albarracin D, Leeper J, Wang W. Immediate increases in eating following exercise promotion messages. Obesity. 2009;17:1451–1452. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Anderson CA, Galinsky AD. Power, optimism, and the proclivity for risk. European Journal of Social Psychology. 2006;36:511–536.
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Recommended Reading

    1. Ajzen I, Fishbein M. The influence of attitudes on behavior. In: Albarracin D, Johnson BT, Zanna MP, editors. The handbook of attitudes. Psychology Press; London, England: 2005. pp. 173–221. A thorough, clearly written overview of the utility of specific attitudes, intentions, and goals in the behavioral sciences.
    1. Albarracin D, Handley I, Noguchi K, McCulloch K, Li H, Leeper J, et al. 2008. See References. One of the first papers to raise attention about general action and inaction goals. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Albarracin D, Leeper J, Wang W. 2009. See References. Illustrates how motivation for general action can be invoked in one domain (exercise) but ultimately influence another, potentially competing domain (eating) - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bargh JA, Gollwitzer PM, Lee-Chai A, Barndollar K, Trötschel R. The automated will: Nonconscious activation and pursuit of behavioral goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2001;81:1014–1027. A key empirical piece illustrating the influence of goals on behavior. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Noguchi K, Albarracin D, Handley IM. in press. See References. A comprehensive, highly accessible discussion of regional differences in motivation for general action and potential consequences.

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