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The action crisis is a critical phase in goal striving during which the goal pursuer feels conflicted about persevering with the goal or initiating disengagement. Recent research suggests that goal motivation, specifically controlled motivation (i.e., pursuing a goal out of obligation and pressure), increases the likelihood of experiencing action crises. In turn, action crises in goal pursuit have been linked to increases in depression symptoms and cortisol. In the present 8-month longitudinal study, we tracked university students’ personal goals to examine whether the pursuit of controlled goals and the experience of action crises was associated with increasing levels of hair cortisol, perceived stress, poor health, and depression symptoms ( N = 156). Structural equation modeling suggested that experiencing action crises in goal pursuit was associated with increases in markers of stress, depression, and ill-being. This effect was partially explained by controlled goal motivation. The clinical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

Here, we integrate two influential psychological theories: social-identity theory and self-determination theory. Whereas social-identity theory considers how social identities impact the self, self-determination theory elucidates the psychological necessity of feeling related, competent, and autonomous. In this article, we outline and provide justification for a unified theoretical framework that considers how perceptions of personal relatedness, competence, and autonomy are influenced by perceptions that one’s social group is related, competent, and autonomous.

Humanistic theorists have long emphasized the importance and benefits of death awareness (Yalom, 1980) yet the literature on death education has focused on fear and anxiety. In the present study, 150 undergraduate students taking either a class on death and dying or a comparison class completed a pre and post-questionnaire on attitudes (negative and positive), values (intrinsic and extrinsic) and eudaimonic wellbeing (meaning in life and vitality). Results revealed that compared to their peers in another class, students studying death and dying significantly increased in death acceptance, intrinsic values, meaning in life, and vitality. Furthermore, increases in intrinsic values mediated the relationship between participation in death and dying education and meaning in life. Results are discussed in light of experiential learning, posttraumatic growth, and terror management.

The purpose of this research was to examine the role of self-construal on goal instrumentality in close friendships. Participants (105 female friend dyads, N = 210) were asked to set personal academic goals and were followed up over the course of a semester. Using the actor–partner interdependence model, results revealed that those with a high relational self-construal were more likely to perceive their friends to be instrumental to their goals. This in turn led to greater friendship commitment and closeness as well as greater goal progress over the course of the semester. Actor’s perception of goal instrumentality did not lead to friend’s goal progress but did have positive relational consequences. The results highlight the benefits of relying on others in self-regulation.

Could a shift in values over time drive resolution of identity and intimacy in young adulthood? In the present study, we found support for our hypothesis that increased prioritization of intrinsic values over an academic year predicts university students’ resolution of the Eriksonian stages of identity and intimacy, and that stage resolution would mediate the relationship between value change and enhanced well-being. Among the 196 students followed from September to April, we found that increased prioritization of intrinsic relative to extrinsic values over the year related to greater resolution of both identity and intimacy, controlling for stage resolution at T1, and that increased resolution positively predicted enhanced subjective well-being and psychological well-being over time.

Three studies examined the relations of autonomy support and directive support to goal progress over 3 months. Autonomy support was defined in terms of empathic perspective-taking, whereas directive support was defined in terms of the provision of positive guidance. Results from Study 1 revealed that autonomy support between romantic partners was significantly positively related to goal progress over 3 months, and that the beneficial effect of autonomy support was mediated by enhanced autonomous goal motivation. Study 2 involved female friend dyads and extended the goal progress results to include both self-reports and reports by peers. Study 3 showed that autonomy support similarly promoted progress at vicarious goals. Across three studies, autonomy support was also significantly associated with improved relationship quality and subjective well-being. Directive support was marginally associated with better goal progress across the three studies and unrelated to relationship quality or well-being.

The purpose of the present research was to examine the automatic role of psychological need satisfaction in episodic memories and in their associated networked memories on people’s sense of well-being. In each of four studies, participants were asked to describe a main episodic memory and networked memories, that is, other memories related to their main episodic memory. Results of Studies 1 and 2 revealed that levels of need satisfaction in a main episodic memory and in its networked memories both uniquely contributed to the prediction of well-being (based on either participants’ or peers’ ratings). Study 3 examined the automatic effect of priming an episodic memory network on people’s well-being in the here and now. Study 4 revealed that need satisfaction in episodic memory networks predicted changes in well-being over time. In addition, this relationship held after controlling for broad dispositional traits, mental health, and general need satisfaction ratings.

Five separate studies examined the associations of self-criticism and self-oriented perfectionism with goal pursuit across a variety of domains. Although self-criticism has previously been shown to be related to diminished goal progress, a controversy remains regarding the potential association between aspects of “positive perfectionism,” such as self-oriented perfectionism, and enhanced goal progress. The results of the five studies demonstrated a consistent pattern of negative association between self-criticism and goal progress. The results also showed a positive association between self-oriented perfectionism and goal progress when self-criticism was controlled. The important role of self-criticism for understanding the impact of perfectionistic concerns is highlighted by these results. Implications for the debate concerning the possible positive effects of perfectionistic strivings are also discussed.

Educational researchers have examined the effect of achievement goals on student performance, and suggest that both mastery goals and performance-approach goals are beneficial, whereas performance-avoidance goals are harmful. Recent research proposes that these results may not be generalized in the domain of music. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relation of performance approach, performance avoidance, mastery and intrinsic goals to the end-of-year public performance of 129 music, dance and acting conservatory students. Results demonstrated that both types of performance goals (approach and avoidance) were associated with negative emotional outcomes, and that only intrinsic goals were associated with positive performance and emotional outcomes. Mastery goals were unrelated to outcomes in this sample. Intrinsic goals associated with aesthetic expression and enjoyment seemed to be particularly helpful for performing artists.

The cultural internalization and competence of a diverse sample of tricultural university students was assessed. Based on recent research on the internalization of cultural norms, it was predicted that (a) having a heritage culture that embraced egalitarian values would be conducive to autonomous internalization and cultural competence, (b) competence and internalization would be associated with positive affect in heritage cultural contexts, and (c) the same positive relations between competence, internalization, and affect would be evident in English Canadian and French Canadian contexts. The study included 113 participants representing more than 35 distinct ethnicities. Results supported the hypothesized relations among egalitarianism, autonomous internalization, competence, and affect. Furthermore, the results indicated that individuals’ cultural adaptation in both heritage and English Canadian cultures, combined with the extent to which they had integrated their cultural identities in their self, predicted psychological wellbeing.

A study was conducted to further validate the Motivation Toward the Environment Scale (MTES). Results confirmed both the convergent and discriminant validity of the MTES by showing that peer reports corresponded to self-reports of environmental self-regulation and that environmental self-regulation was relatively distinct from self-regulation in academic and political domains. Results also pointed to some possible sources of autonomous self-regulation. Individuals were more likely to engage in autonomous environmental behaviors if (a) their parents had shown an interest in their developing attitudes about the environment, (b) their peers supported their freedom to make decisions about the environment, and (c) they had already developed life aspirations such as concern for their community. Finally, results confirmed the adaptive value of developing an autonomous regulatory style toward environmental activities. Thus, autonomous individuals were shown to report stable proenvironmental attitudes over time, a greater number of environmental behaviors, and higher levels of well-being.

Archival longitudinal data were used to examine relations of childhood environmental factors with adult values. Parental style and family socioeconomic status (SES) were assessed when participants were 5 years old. At age 31, participants completed the Rokeach Value Survey. Results indicated that adults focused on conformity values were more likely to have restrictive parents and to have been raised in lower SES families. Age-31 self-direction values were negatively correlated with parental restrictiveness at age 5, and age-31 security values were negatively correlated with parental warmth at age 5. Results with parenting variables remained significant after controlling for both childhood and concurrent SES. The pattern of findings is consistent with organismic-based theories, which suggest that the manner in which environments support or hinder need satisfaction influences individuals’ value development.

Helgeson proposed a comprehensive model of agency, communion, and well-being that was based on a review of the literature on agentic and communal personality traits, power and intimacy motivation, and self-critical and dependent depressive styles. The present study empirically examined the overlap among these personality dimensions as well as their relations to positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, and social adjustment. A factor analysis of the various personality measures yielded two factors, labeled communion and agency. Power motivation loaded negatively with four communal qualities: communal traits, communal role behaviors, intimacy motivation, and dependency. Self-criticism loaded negatively with two other agentic qualities: agentic traits and agentic role behaviors. Both agency and communion were significantly positively associated with positive affect and social adjustment. Agency also was sig nificantly associated with higher life satisfaction and lower negative affect. The positive adjustment outcomes related to agency were confirmed by peer reports.

Intrinsic and identified regulation were examined in the context of two Canadian political campaigns. It was anticipated that identification (but not intrinsic motivation) would lead to positive outcomes when one is involved in an activity that is not necessarily fun but self-relevant, such as following a personally valued political event. Questionnaires were completed by 216 college students 1 week before and 1 week after the 1995 New Brunswick election and Quebec referendum. As predicted, results revealed that identification (but not intrinsic motivation) was significantly positively associated with the personal relevance of the vote, pleasant emotions about the vote outcome, and reported voting. Surprisingly, in the highly emotional Quebec referendum, intrinsic motivation was significantly associated with experiencing less pleasant emotions about a favorable vote outcome. The personal relevance of the campaign also mediated the process by which identification predicted to positive outcomes.

The relation qf autonomy to naturally occurring social interaction was investigated in two studies using a daily recording methodology. It was expected that autonomous functioning, as measured by the General Causafity Orientations Scale, would be related to positive social experience. Study 1 examined college students' interactions with parents; Study 2 examined interactions across aU relationships. Both studies showed that autonomy was significantly related to more positive and honest naturally occurring interaction, whereas control related to more defensive functioning.

Previous reviews have concluded that there is a significant positive relation between masculinity and adjustment. The present study examined the generality of this relation by measuring gender characteristics and adjustment-related outcomes in a multidimensional manner. Results showed that although masculine traits were significantly positively associated with life satisfaction and positive affect for both men and women, they were not related to negative affect. A significant positive relation emerged between masculine traits and dyadic adjustment for both men and women, but this relation was not confirmed by partner reports. Masculine behaviors were unrelated to life satisfaction and positive affect but were positively related to negative affect. Feminine traits were predictive of the experience of pleasant interpersonal emotions and good dyadic functioning for men. A sex difference emerged for feminine interests and behaviors, indicating that they tended to be associated with negative outcomes for men but positive outcomes for women. Together, the results call into question the scope of the masculinity model of adjustment.

This study examined relations among implicit intimacy motivation (n Int), self-attributed intimacy motivation (san Int) and social interaction variables; n Int was measured by thematic analysis of imaginative story content, whereas san Int was measured with a self-report questionnaire adapted from the Jackson Personality Research Form. Forty university students kept a daily record of their social interactions for a 1-week period. The results indicated that n Int and san Int were not significantly correlated, were associated with different quantitative dimensions of social interaction and were both independent predictors of the valence of social interaction. Although neither n Int nor san Int were significantly related to self-disclosure, the two types of intimacy motivation seemed to be particularly responsive to different environmental cues in social interaction for self-disclosure. These results are consistent with research on the implicit and self-attributed measures of other social motives.

The analysis of self-other data for the study of person perception accuracy is illustrated and discussed. Length of acquaintance, length of cohabitation, and trait empathy were investigated for their moderating effects on person perception accuracy, defined as the level of self-other agreement. Self-other agreement was computed four ways. A trait-by-trait analysis was performed twice, first using the moderator variable to form subgroups from which self-other correlations within each trait were computed and then using the moderator as a continuous variable in a series of moderated multiple regressions. Next, a profile analysis was performed that isolated two accuracy components, implicit profile accuracy and ideographic accuracy, which were conceptually similar to Cronbach's stereotype accuracy and differential accuracy components. The analyses, taken together, provided a componential and informative (if not comprehensive) analysis regarding accuracy as it is manifest in self-peer agreement data. Sex and cohabitation length moderated accuracy whereas acquaintance length and trait empathy did not.

A prospective longitudinal design was used to examine the relation between temperament and early parenting variables at age 5 and sensitivity to nonverbal cues at age 31 as measured by the Profile of Nonverbal Sensitivity (PONS). The results showed that 26% of the variance in adult nonverbal sensitivity was accounted for by the childhood variables. Three predictors contributed to good adult decoding skills: easy child temperament, parental harmony, and moderate father strictness. Temperament accounted for the largest percentage of unique variance in adult nonverbal sensitivity (8.8%). No sex differences were found.

This research examined the impact of self-regulatory styles on the degree of consistency between behaviors and self-reported attitudes and traits. It was predicted that individuals who regulate their behavior in an autonomous manner would be more like{y to display behavior consistent with their self-reported attitudes and traits than individuals who regulate their behavior in accordance with external or introjected controls. In two intrinsic motivation laboratory experiments, subjects who were classified as autonomy oriented on the basis of their responses to the General Causality Orientations Scale were shown to display significantly higher attitude-behavior correlations than subjects classified as control oriented. In another experiment, autonomy-oriented subjects showed greater consistency between self-descriptions of conscientiousness and a behavioral criterion than control-oriented subjects. Together, these findings support Deci and Ryan's hypothesis that individual differences in self-regulation will influence indexes of personality integration.

This study examined the extent to which self-reports of uniqueness moderate self-peer agreement on personality trait ratings. A high level of uniqueness implies that the individual differs from the rest of the population on a particular trait. The results showed that ratings of uniqueness were (a) independent of three previously identified trait-specific moderator variables consistency, relevance, and observability—and (b) associated with higher levels of self peer agreement. In addition, self-peer agreement was higher for traits that subjects viewed as relevant and observable, replicating previous work in the area.

The present experiment was designed to examine whether children's gender would moderate the effects of ability-focused versus effort-focused praise on their performance, perceived competence, and intrinsic motivation. A secondary goal was to examine whether type of involvement might also serve to moderate the effects of effort-focused praise. Fifth and sixth grade boys and girls were introduced to hidden-figures puzzles in eithera task-involving (ie., gamelike) or an ego-involving (i.e., test like) manner and then received either ability-focused or effort-focused praise for their performance. The results showed that boys reported feeling relatively more competent, performed relatively better, and displayed relatively more free choice intrinsic motivation after receiving ability praise than effort praise, whereas girls reported feeling relatively more competent, performed relatively better, and evidenced relatively greater intrinsic motivation after receiving effort than ability praise. The differential impact of ability-focused versus effort-focused praise was especially pronounced for boys. These findings are discussed in terms of boys' and girls' previous history with verbal rewards and gender differences in performance attributions. No effects were found for type of involvement.

Heterosexual personal advertisements from two geographically separated, local, weekly newspapers were content-analyzed. Three significant patterns of findings emerged which shed light on gender differences in self-presentational style. First, women were found to be relatively more likely to offer instrumental or `male-valued' traits in their ads and to seek expressive or `female-valued' ones, while men showed the reverse pattern. This paradoxical finding was interpreted to reflect the influence of implicit notions of attraction and role expectations. Second, women were relatively more likely to offer weight and to seek height, while men were relatively more likely to offer height and to seek weight. This pattern was interpreted to reflect the influence of the `male-taller-norm' in mate selection as well as a societal bias toward thinness in women. Finally, as in previous studies of this sort, women were found to be relatively more likely to offer physical attractiveness and to seek professional status, while men were relatively more likely to offer professional status and to seek attractiveness. This pattern was interpreted to be consistent with traditional sex-role expectations wherein appearance is stressed for women and status for men. Overall, the findings show that advertisers exhibit an understanding of implicit theories of attraction: men and women tend to offer precisely those attributes which are sought by the opposite sex.