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UMC PHYCHOL SCI
JUN-15-2005 10:30
“The Self-Concordance Model of Healthy Goal
Striving: When Personal Goals Correctly Represent
the Person
Kennon M, Sheldon
University of Missouri-Colembia
viduals eet and pursue, deve
of causality PLOC) that they have
‘ple sometimes fail to select goals that are appropriate to their ue or actsal needs,
Values, and inieres's, which can have profound coss for theie
growth, Before considesing these theoretical issues, however,
to consider the nature of idiographic goal-assessment proced
Idiographic Goals as Units of Motivational Analysis
je geal methodel
993), life-tases (Cantor & Blanton,
dhcy engage in or will be engaging in.
a aumber of important advantages
provide the w mnalysis and are thus typically
the approach to one of the most respected traditions of personality psychology 65: HANDBOOK OF SELF-DETERMINATION The Self Concordance Model 67
to understand per- in fact generate
goal methodologies cconirols or constraints (a8 is dhe case dv
variety of issues there would appea
selection, factors
OF co:
conwelling aspect
whieh researchers
Napa, 1998), Sec
provide the basic
ora : ove
naturally occupy participants’ attention over tim :
Fara potently poncralwidos im the temporal dymariet of baie Dor
seetiyFanetioning, and they algo offer a fucus Lar conceptualizing ed encanse-
Wee the entire proces of proactive adeplation in which individuals engage ‘heir participation inthe sendy as on interesting and even exciting opportunity —
(Aapiewall & Taylor, 19975 Smyder & Can a chance to devote focused effort on geting what they want-—altncugh, unforts-
formation it important
Self-Determination Teen sand revealing, regardles of participan' conscious arGuude towards the task
and the Proactive Individual
SDT began in the ream of social pyehology, examining the oat of ‘The PLOC Methodology Applied to Personal Goals
potently conrling suatna fess upon imine movaion adherent
Oh Em porermance (De, 1875, Decl & Ryan, 1980) The daory began move
deeper nto the person when Ryan (1982) showed that people can sss e690 ‘An important concept within SD concerns individuals’ perceived locas of
3 (rolled by internal forces, that could be aroused by eyp-involving si ional causality for heir behavior Ryan & Connell, 1989). According to this view,
& anipiltions. The. PLOC internalization contiauam (yan & Connell 1959) tahenicrs cay ont onthat ot inemalizaioa, caging fom seimernaliscd
wp the orguaisnicinfegration ceneept (Deci & Ryan, 1989E, 199%) took the thes (or coatratted to fully internalized: LOC
Sony to the very core of personhood, es sexearchers exp motivational tw which the regulation of a behavior is external or norintemnalized versus inter
jus behavior (Ryan, Ri
by & King, 1999) the internalization ‘al or filly internalized, The PLOC methodology has now heen af “
7, dhe nature of psychological vital the quay or dogree of inverralied motieadon wthin a wide eet pie
eves, These theortza!develop- domains or contents. These Include school (Vllerand, Forte, & Guay, 1997),
‘on a host of basic personality and sell work (Baard, Deci, & Ryen, 2000), sports (Pelleties Fortier, Vllerand, 8 Turon,
sogulatory processes. 1995), environmental i a
‘However one process not estersively addrewed by selfdete ships (Blais, Sabourin, Boucher, & Valle
researchers 's that by which individuals: proactively select new Sife-direct Rodin, Ryan, Grolaick, & Deci,
enc from among the potentially hewikering vaity of poste “
2000) ‘Thats, ov do people generate person iniarves, that people can ste why hey behave within te particular doein being sed
per wll hopefily serve to advance chem in their ewn developmental Scale items tend to focus people's atention upon the forces and contingencies
foe broad meating and purpose io thei ves (yf & Sige, 1998)? Given ie residing within that domain, as well asthe seasons they behave inthe context of|
a freed that people have in sclecting suck initatves (Schwert, 2000) is it thove forces, The basic issue concerns whether pe feel sdfdeterrrined in
Toots for Diem to choose the “wrong” goals fr themselves? If individuals do the face of these situtional wluences. A measure of fel sel-deterninaton with
JUN-15-2005 10°30
e
i 3 HANDBOOK OF SELP-DETRRMINATION
«that domain is derived, often by subtracting the strength of controlled reesons
8 om that of autonomous reasons,
© Howeves, es noted sbove, my program of research takes leave of past
comainb and instead asks people fist (6 to 10) broad personal goals. The:
«graphic stems then beccme the focus of PLOG appraisals; that i paiticipants
Eiroceed to ate the extent to which they perme exch goal for autonemous vs
© antrolled reasons. Because the goals concern participants’ entire lives
Gfepresent a vasiery of fe-domains and/or address trans-¢omain
s, when aggregates sgoalsyiem, take om the
imilarto the Aute
a, 1990). In other words, they are goals unde
fed motivation. Such goals are assumed to represeat the “best” of people,
The Self-Concordance Madet 69
prosetively shaping themselves and their environmcots to permit further growth
and expansion. As can also -1, however, not all goals are inte=
are feh to be cornpelled by external
lect core values or deeper interests, In
sgregate sel-concordance variable for
cach participant, by summing the intrinsic a sd ratings the person
makes for each of his or ier (6 10 11) goals axel subtracting the external and
inerojected ratings.
Figure 3.1. A Spatial Relationship of Self-Concordance 70 HANDSOOK OF SELF-DETERMANATION
3 Self-Concordance and Well-being
a
whether or not a pe
that person's well-being
Self-Coacordance and Concurrent Well-being
Sheldon and Kasser (1995) found support for this idea in a corse
study of participants personal trivings(.c, the enduring teleological trend
characierize their personalities; Emmons, (989). Specifically sel-con:
ion of any causal relationship between sl
the elation may go the other ways pe
being (apparendy a highly heritable it; yen
tepor that they better enjoy and more strong densify with
in a longitudinal convex,
Iocused personal initiatives
SelfConcerdance and Longitudinal Well-being
Sheldon and Kasser (1898) conducted a short
well-being, using the time-celimit
i vehide. Guided by Brun:
‘al attainment promotes
15-2005 10:32
JUN-
satisfying of individuals’ organismic net
concordant goals were assumed to better repre
interests, ané development
tional benefits for che p
The Seif-Cuncordence Model
estimations of their personal com
Figure 3-2 abo suggest thet con
individuals are at rsh for reduced well-being, if they fail w attain
Sheldon and Kasser argued 1
16 ¢0 transform mt
romantic relationship or grow in a new dizection may feel substantial (legitimate)
disappointment if he or she fais in thase sims. To paraphrase an old saying, “no
risk of pain, ne potential for
168
Change to 8
Swe satconcacanal
BH Sal concorde
Figure 3.2 Change in Well-Being for Four Hypothetical Participants
Who Made Low or High Amounts of Progress in Goals Low or High
in Self-Concerdance. 72 HANDBOOK OF SELF-DRTERMINATION
a Conceptualizing and Measuring Need Satisfaction
sumed that concordant goal-
measure or model 1eed-satistaction,
\ceptualize and measure psychological needs Are needs
bbe measured by duenatic methods
8 ideqarding tow io
5 ‘
snomenological experiencs (Deci & Ryan,
1g? U briefly diverge from goab-related research and the self-concordance
issue in order to aildress this question, Its relevance forthe final self concordance
are happiest and health
perrait them to feel effect
are evolved—that, on the behavioral outpat
adaptive benefits associated with
ience and that, on the experiential input side, they were selected for
rewarding aspect of these three feelings reinforces much adaptive
i learning, Unfortunately, space does net permit fardier development of these
ideas here.
Sheldon, Ryan, and Reis (1996) and Reis, Sheldon, Roscoe, Gable, and Ryan
(2000) found new support for the proposition usar humans “need” these three
types of experiences by showing thar the activity-based feelings of autonomy,
‘competence, and relatedness oceurring during a 4 each predicted well-
being on that day Speciically these inves a daily cary method
by which the need-fuilling quality of an
‘on agiven dey could be assessed. They fount
activities (Le., experiential a
independent lfc on posits
UMC _PHYCHOL
featended these ndings to the longitu
wing a daily Gary method to show that ne=c-satislying experiences accarmulat-
ing over a period of time predict changesin global wel-being at the end of that
time, In short, the above findings are consistent with SDT's proposal that nce
satisfaction is essenial 2 we have recently integrated nced-satisfaction consrcts
JUN-15-2005 10:32
into oor goal research, Before discussiog this integration, howe
(© the topic of self-concordant goal pursuit and st relations with
Self-Concordance and Goal Attainment
(or lack of it) is finally determined. In their study
se-concordance variable inte autonomous (intrinsic a
‘rolled (external and intojectes) faces, examining each sep
of inital intended effort, actual iater effort, andi final ataininent.
‘not contact people's ends
erduring sources of energy,
New Year's resolutions. Bi
he person's fill emotional volitional suppor,
ly wo be wellenergized, protected, and attained.
Putting the Self-Concordance Model Together
Sheldon and Elliot (1999) assembled all of thes
sses, and well-being
‘ode. Figure $-3 presents thee integrazed LISREL model, with the
s that were generated in a successful seme
this esearch, all earlier results were simultancoasly re
of selfconcordance of participants’ goals predicted
{Sheldon & Kasses, 1995] and ako predicted sustained effor ta MawDAOOK OF SHLE-DETERMINATION The Self-Concordance Model — 15
26
tn Bottom-up versus Top-down Routes
attainment (ShelWioa & Blt, 1998}; goal attanmen
fe a : to Enhanced Well-being
See wei Pie en woe
nd tbe wake ont
oe et ein emg hon fs,
se ft Ee a: (ya
ae tenancies we
re ane em conn
io se en ln pore lon
Se ec te
eee a eyes aunt Famer for texing many personality dowlop
wenden
o! in turn pred
‘The results presenicd so far are consistent with batiom-up models of well-
being (Diener, 1984), which say chat tus from the aceuenalatios
‘many small pesitive event
S73 882 7716
‘motional eveats that should contribute to this memory-based appraisal process,
and their data, based on cight samplings of daily activity occurring daring dhe
surly, supported mn.
‘However, I now suggest another explanation for the bottoe-up effects of
‘nece/-arisfaction on well-being, namely, that people who have many such experi-
uriving and health” as a. result,
based on accuzate perceptions of his or h
Bose
a tion to boing influenced by the
8 processes out the Diener et al. (1990) Model
4 context: those who regulady experi
3 may thrive toa greater et
& x dance Model: LISREL Parameter Estimates the samme way that a plant thrives given regular sunlight and watering, con
2 Figure 3.3. The Self-Concordan: to plants chat do not get sach uutriments.
To sume
‘been shown to be associated with thrce positive ou
is correlated with positive co
viduals abi
8 0 willbe attaic is in sedi
that te mega fe apts eninneed top-down influences in addition to bottom-up
g fying un gto ent duing the obal well-being For example, personal goal-attainment may help
g uring © ; ple alter their basic attitudes or evaluative basclines which can bring about
i io: (859 ste ieacyexpectation, imple ively sudden changes in global well-being The idea that more selFconcor
Bo were not rece w the me self-concordance provides! it individuals are more poised for top-down transformations in the Ik or
3 ete a tel aaere an ae er soe ummm tk
d in greater deusil below, P.a7
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76 HANDBOOK OF SELF-DETERMINATION
“The above results suggest that the ability co select concordan: goals i
important skill, on ‘ot necessarily to be taken for granted. What kinds of
nore specific abiliies enable individuals to select the best goals for Gremselves?
‘This inceresting question is now considered.
Skills Required for Self-Concordant Goal-Selection
I suggest that generating concordant
least three component skills or abit
ing and broadly-representative in:
i s o6¢ must be able lo recognize what one's enduring values and
‘more momentary whims. By #0 doing, one is able to
‘or blind alleys and te
students, in which they were taught st hs
wu ye
Sr arta ar gael mrp as en
a
ray nt ge geht
ee ei pc oe ron oh
say ogre atm nt of rl
vee cag ret am fh,
the sclfconcordance mode) ified sae atin
pele eeepc been aac at
Panos ys cna
alpaca oe *
"rt pe or ape
one’s own niceds and growth tend
tee harmful impulses are taken in from dhe environment, Thus,
the differenc
portant skill that eubances seconcordanice
vals whose contetsare coasisten: with basic needs and motives wit
Fessonality (yan, 1965), To understand this it is necessary to distinguish
Retween the “what” or explicit object of goals, and the “why” or motives behind
goals Ryan, Sreldon, Kasse, & 6). The sel-vonconlance mode) focus
ts primarily on the “why” of go ly, the sense of ownership that the
person does oF do concerning goa. Hoxeves, the content of goals is
meordant at the beginning of the study
ee
Soe
Sartliemec ny te ane arn
Sale Tinh select TES,
‘motivation for stealing "he ex}
that process (fhe believes that the rich have acquired heir wealth by Wegimate
means), Conversely, a person might puriue goals with intinsic content, fer non P.@8
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78 MANDROOK OF SELF-DETERMINATION
Sheldon etal. (2002) conceptualized the “strong get stronger” «fect in vers
of dynamic ystems meals of personal fancGoning (Valacher & Rowels 4s
they postulated that se-concordant individ
they readily move 10 new phas-
suit. In cons
wast,
ing change and clinging
ie their own potential
already, are receiving, ample
vale advantage af az opportnity to grow even farther Nowconcortant individ,
vas may be Stalled,” afraid of losing what ite natrtion they do receive, and
thus may be unprepared to take advantage of new growth epportuniis,
Notably participating inthe intervention didnot enluance participants’ verse
of selkeencorlance directly; thats, there was no main effect of programpartc~
fpotor on programpacicigans' later sFconcordance rating, compared ©
vol group participants, Achoug hs was contrary tour expectations i
carton aso desirable ontcome, one that ina way supports the vay of the
oe aomeordance model That i its perhaps comforting that people cannot be
simply “talked into” grewer selconcerdance, Indced, i he sfr-eorcondancs
ies correct in assuning (hs: 2 person's goals can realy fal to represent his
aie calves and terest, en ah facile 1-rerings should have Limited elec”
Sencse stoed, these cvuis suggest tha: people must work for greater
