A goal is a mental image of a future scenario that a person aims to achieve or avoid. Successful goal striving is significantly related to subjective well-being [2]. according to Elliot and Fryer, “a goal is a cognitive representation of a future object that the organism is committed to approach or avoid” ([1], p. 245).
Furthermore, meta-analyses suggest that goal-setting interventions can help improve a wide range of behaviors, including learning [3] [4], job search [5], and physical activity [6] [7].
Goals affect performance via three key mechanisms:
1. First, goals help the individual focus. They direct attention and effort toward goal-relevant activities and away from goal-irrelevant activities.
2. Second, goals have an energizing function. Setting a goal creates a sense of urgency, motivating people to make an effort to reduce the discrepancy between the current state and the desired goal state [8]. In addition, goals can energize people because the self-confidence that is acquired by reaching them fuels their motivation to continue pursuing new goals.
3. Third, goals increase learning. When people start to pursue a goal, they gain new insights, gather novel information, and learn to apply new strategies [9] [10].
REFERENCES
^ Elliot, A. J., & Fryer, J. W. (2008). The goal concept in psychology. In J. Shah & W. Gardner (Eds.), Handbook of motivational science (pp. 235–250). New York: Guilford Press.
^ Klug, H. J., & Maier, G. W. (2015). Linking goal progress and subjective well-being: A meta-analysis. Journal of Happiness Studies, 16, 37-65.
^ Mesmer-Magnus, J., & Viswesvaran, C. (2007). Inducing maximal versus typical learning through the provision of a pretraining goal orientation. Human Performance, 20, 205-222.
^ Sitzmann, T., & Ely, K. (2011). A meta-analysis of self-regulated learning in work-related training and educational attainment: what we know and where we need to go. Psychological bulletin, 137, 421-442.
^ Liu, S., Huang, J. L., & Wang, M. (2014). Effectiveness of job search interventions: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 140, 1009-1041.
^ McEwan, D., Harden, S. M., Zumbo, B. D., Sylvester, B. D., Kaulius, M., Ruissen, G. R., ... & Beauchamp, M. R. (2016). The effectiveness of multi-component goal setting interventions for changing physical activity behaviour: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Health psychology review, 10, 67-88.
^ O’Brien, N., McDonald, S., Araújo-Soares, V., Lara, J., Errington, L., Godfrey, A., ... & Sniehotta, F. F. (2015). The features of interventions associated with long-term effectiveness of physical activity interventions in adults aged 55–70 years: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Psychology Review, 9, 417-433.
^ Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F. (1982). Control theory: A useful conceptual framework for personality–social, clinical, and health psychology. Psychological Bulletin, 92, 111-135.
^ Earley, P. C., & Perry, B. C. (1987). Work plan availability and performance: An assessment of task strategy priming on subsequent task completion. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 39, 279-302.
^ Wood, R. E., & Locke, E. A. (1990). Goal setting and strategy effects on complex tasks. In B. Staw and L. Cummings (Eds.), Research in organizational behavior (Vol. 12). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.
Motivation is the internal process that initiates, guides, and sustains goal-oriented behaviors. It encompasses the biological, emotional, social, and cognitive forces that activate human behavior.
Staying motivated without external feedback can be challenging because feedback often triggers emotional responses that influence future behavior. Positive feedback can enhance motivation, while negative feedback may diminish it.
Additionally, external factors such as supportive relationships and positive role models profoundly influence personal growth and motivation. Without these external nudges, maintaining motivation becomes more difficult.
Therefore, while intrinsic motivation is crucial, external feedback and support play significant roles in sustaining motivation over time.
REFERENCES
^ Kulik, J. A., & Kulik, C. C. (1988). Timing of feedback and verbal learning. Review of Educational Research, 58, 79-97.
^ Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (1990). A theory of goal setting and task performance. Prentice-Hall.
^ Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2002). Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation. American Psychologist, 57, 705-717.
^ Manderlink, G., & Harackiewicz, J.M. (1984). Proximal versus distal goal setting on intrinsic motivation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 918-928.
^ McGregor, I., & Little, B. R. (1998). Personal projects, happiness, and meaning: On doing well and being yourself. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 494-512.
^ Schunk, D. H. (2000). Learning theories: An educational perspective (3rd ed.). Merrill. The Psychology of Goals (Kindle Location 4291). Kindle Edition.
^ Wills, T.A., Sandy, J.M., & Yaeger, A.M. (2001). Time perspective and early-onset substance use: A model based on stress-coping theory. Psychology of Addictive Behaviours, 15, 118-125.
^ Zaleski, Z., Cycon, A., & Kurc, A. (2001). Future time perspective and subjective well-being in adolescent samples. In P. Schmuck & K.M. Sheldon (Eds.), Life goals and well-being: Towards a positive psychology of human striving (pp. 58-67). Hogrefe & Huber.
Positive Psychology Science focuses on your Strengths as opposed to your Weaknesses. Traditional psychologists are guided by a disease model that was focused on repairing damage rather than promoting well-being. Thus, Positive Psychology exercises focus on enhancing your well-being, are grounded in mindset research, and guide you toward achieving flow states.
Decades of research show how much the types of goals people set matter. Some goals are better for people’s mental health, personal growth, and wellbeing than others (Ryan, Sheldon, Kasser, & Deci, 1996), because they better express a person’s underlying interests, values, talents, needs, and motives.
This class as an opportunity for individuals interested in staying motivated. It provides credibility through research references and clearly targets those interested in mastering goal-setting and achievement strategies. With proven principles and actionable insights, this class empowers you to align your goals with your values, talents, and aspirations, paving the way for meaningful and lasting success.
If you’re passionate about developing yourself and staying motivated to reach your life goals, the Motivation & Goal Achievement Science Masterclass is for you.
What you will achieve:
Goal setting is a powerful tool for your professional growth. Understanding the types of goals you set is crucial to ensuring they align with your values and circumstances. Goals have traditionally been divided into these categories:
1. Mastery Goals
These focus on self-improvement and mastering a skill or area, such as “I will become my best self.” Mastery goals emphasize growth and development rather than comparison to others.
2. Performance-Approach Goals
These involve outperforming others, like aiming for a better job performance review or improving your appearance. While competitive in nature, they can drive motivation when used constructively.
3. Mastery Avoidance Goals
These reflect an effort to avoid failing at mastering something, such as “I don’t want to fall short of my potential.” While less discussed, they can still be effective in specific contexts.
Each type of goal has value depending on your situation. Setting the right type of goal ensures clarity, motivation, and a greater likelihood of success. Proper goals act as a roadmap, guiding you toward meaningful achievements and personal fulfillment.
Positive Psychology is the scientific study of people's strengths and aims to maximize the human potential, help you become the best version of yourself, having you focus on your character strengths and behaviors, as opposed to your weaknesses.
Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living, focusing on both individual and societal well-being. It studies "positive subjective experience, positive individual traits, positive institutions and it aims to improve quality of life.
Many positive psychology exercises are considered classics – and for good reason. While activities such as gratitude journaling and loving-kindness meditation have been shown time and again to lead to positive outcomes, the goal of this class is to provide a variety of new and novel ways to include positive psychology in your personal growth.
These science-based positive psychology exercises explore fundamental aspects of psychology including strengths, values and self-compassion (to name a few) will give you the tools you need to enhance the your wellbeing and set goals for an achievable outcome.
This module gives you an in-depth understanding of the field of positive psychology and second-wave positive psychology, providing a foundation for goal-oriented practice.
Goals are introduced along with their most important dimensions. Using these dimensions, you will learn what effective goal-setting entails and what kind of goals are most likely to be realized.
Discover how excessive or insufficient attention for goals can have a detrimental impact on well-being and how to foster balanced amount of attention for goals.
In this module, you will learn how thoughts about goals and their realization are inherently linked, as demonstrated by concepts such as self-efficacy, levels of aspiration, and pathways thinking.
The well-being that results from the process of working towards goals is strongly dependent on the underlying type of motivation. You will learn how to identify different types of motivation and foster healthy ones.
In this module, you will explore which forms of action help in making steady progress toward goals in order to finally realize them, such as mental imagery, making action plans, forming habits, and positive reinforcement.
This module integrates key concepts from the course, ensuring a clear understanding of goal-setting, balanced attention, motivation, and effective action to enhance well-being and success.
This bonus includes follow-up questions and clarifications to help you implement the strategies effectively and address any challenges along the way. Focus on sustaining progress, refining techniques, and ensuring goal achievement through ongoing practice.
That’s all—no sales pitch. I won’t waste your time with marketing gimmicks or flashy promises. My approach is straightforward and authentic.
This is all the text you need for now.
In the class, I’ll provide you with plenty of valuable content, accountability tools, and directions.
No marketing gimmicks or flashy promises, because I trust that you already know what you need to do to get better at whatever you do that you can do better.
Let’s have you focus on what you need!