Psychology Notes
What is Goal-Setting Theory?
Proposed by Edwin Locke and Gary Latham, this theory demonstrates that specific and challenging goals lead to higher performance than vague or easy ones.
Conditions for Effective Goals
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Specificity | ”Study 30 minutes, 3 times a week” beats “try harder” |
| Difficulty | Challenging but not impossible |
| Commitment | Goals you set yourself have higher completion rates |
| Feedback | A system to track and see your progress |
SMART Goals
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
How Goals Improve Performance
Goal-setting enhances performance through four mechanisms:
- Direction — clarifies where to focus your attention
- Effort — higher goals drive greater effort
- Persistence — makes it easier to push through obstacles
- Strategy — encourages you to think about how to achieve the goal