Abstract
Optimistic persistence in pursuing goals may have beneficial consequences such as protection against negative affect and greater likelihood of goal attainment, but persistence can also result in greater likelihood of goal conflict, which can have negative consequences. Two studies, one cross-sectional (N = 100) and one longitudinal (N = 77), found that optimism associated with higher goal conflict. However, objectively rated goal conflict did not significantly undermine adjustment, and when balance among goal value, expectancy, and conflict was considered, optimism associated with better balance. In turn, balance accounted for part of optimists' better goal progress over the course of a semester. Although goal conflict may have costs, these costs appear to be offset by accompanying benefits, particularly for optimists.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 675-693 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | Journal of Research in Personality |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 2006 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors thank Andrew Elliot for his comments on a previous version of this manuscript, Brian Stankiewicz for the introduction to foraging theory, and Ray Baser, Mary Hundley, Marianne Lodmell, and Jennifer Snedeker for their assistance in coding and rating goals. This research was supported by NIH (MH61531-R01).
Funding
The authors thank Andrew Elliot for his comments on a previous version of this manuscript, Brian Stankiewicz for the introduction to foraging theory, and Ray Baser, Mary Hundley, Marianne Lodmell, and Jennifer Snedeker for their assistance in coding and rating goals. This research was supported by NIH (MH61531-R01).
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| National Institutes of Health (NIH) | MH61531-R01 |
Keywords
- Conflict
- Depression
- Expectancy
- Foraging
- Goals
- Optimism
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- General Psychology