| Project description: Regulatory focus theory is an important contribution to the intrapersonal study of goal pursuit and motivational strength acquisition (Higgins, 1997). According to this theory, people tend to have a particular regulatory orientation in the way they approach desired end states. They can focus on gains and the avoidance of non-gains (promotion focus) or they can focus on the avoidance of losses and the pursuit of non-losses (prevention focus). Regulatory focus theory helps explain the increase in motivation that people experience in certain situations. There is evidence that positive motivational consequences for goal pursuit are produced when people pursue goals in a manner that fits their regulatory orientation, causing people to feel right about what they are doing. This newly-developed concept is termed regulatory fit. When people experience regulatory fit, they experience stronger engagement and motivation in goal pursuit (Forster, Higgins, & Idson, 1998), they more positively evaluate the activity of goal pursuit (Freitas & Higgins, 2000), and they are more inclined toward goal pursuit strategies that have higher regulatory fit (Higgins, Roney, Crowe, and Hymes, 1994). Thus far, this phenomenon has been studied from an intrapersonal perspective. Indeed, research has often overlooked the interpersonal aspect of goal pursuit. However, most of the time, people are not isolated from their social environment when they attempt to accomplish goals. They interact with other people who may provide support or suggestions to help them reach their goals. It is plausible that such interpersonal assistance may influence the manner in which they feel and think about their goals. In particular, the aims of our project is to investigate whether the specific regulatory orientations of people who surround and support the individual may play a role in the individual s approach to goals. Specifically, we suggest that regulatory fit can also be construed as an interpersonal phenomenon that may facilitate (vs. impede) goal accomplishment. |
