Forcing your luck: Goal striving behavior in chance situations
Previous research suggests that desired end states (i.e. goals) initiate a set of motivational processes supporting goal attainment. For example, motivational intensity (e.g. effort investment) increases as distance to the goal decreases. The present studies investigate whether this goal gradient can also be observed in chance determined situations, situations in which there is a desired end state (i.e. winning) but in which increased effort investment does not support goal attainment. Three studies provide consistent evidence for the goal gradient in chance determined situations. We show that participants (in the lab and in a TV game show) invest more effort into goal directed behavior the closer they get to the end of the game. The moderation of expectancy and value was, however, modest. Interestingly, participants' self reports suggest that their dynamic changes in behavior were unintentional and perceived as non instrumental. Findings are related to theories of goal pursuit and illusory control, and contrasted to the principle of resource conservation, according to which such behavior should not occur.
Motivation and emotion