Nonconscious goal pursuit: Acting in an explanatory vacuum

@article{citeulike:422209, abstract = {Nonconsciously activated goals and consciously set goals produce the same outcomes by engaging similar psychological processes (Bargh, 1990; Gollwitzer \& Bargh, 2005). However, nonconscious and conscious goal pursuit may have different effects on subsequent affect if goal pursuit affords an explanation, as nonconscious goal pursuit occurs in an explanatory vacuum (i.e. cannot be readily attributed to the respective goal intention). We compared self-reported affect after nonconscious versus conscious goal pursuit that either violated or conformed to a prevailing social norm. When goal-directed behavior did not require an explanation (was norm-conforming), affective experiences did not differ after nonconscious and conscious goal pursuit. However, when goal-directed behavior required an explanation (was norm-violating), nonconscious goal pursuit induced more negative affect than conscious goal pursuit.}, author = {Oettingen, Gabriele and Grant, Heidi and Smith, Pamela K. and Skinner, Mary and Gollwitzer, Peter M. }, citeulike-article-id = {422209}, doi = {10.1016/j.jesp.2005.10.003}, journal = {Journal of Experimental Social Psychology}, keywords = {affect, conscious, emotion, explanation, goal, introspection, norms, unconscious}, posted-at = {2005-12-05 15:10:01}, priority = {3}, title = {Nonconscious goal pursuit: Acting in an explanatory vacuum}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2005.10.003}, volume = {In Press, Corrected Proof} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:422209 L3 - citeulike-article-id:422209 TI - Nonconscious goal pursuit: Acting in an explanatory vacuum JF - Journal of Experimental Social Psychology VL - In Press, Corrected Proof N2 - Nonconsciously activated goals and consciously set goals produce the same outcomes by engaging similar psychological processes (Bargh, 1990; Gollwitzer & Bargh, 2005). However, nonconscious and conscious goal pursuit may have different effects on subsequent affect if goal pursuit affords an explanation, as nonconscious goal pursuit occurs in an explanatory vacuum (i.e. cannot be readily attributed to the respective goal intention). We compared self-reported affect after nonconscious versus conscious goal pursuit that either violated or conformed to a prevailing social norm. When goal-directed behavior did not require an explanation (was norm-conforming), affective experiences did not differ after nonconscious and conscious goal pursuit. However, when goal-directed behavior required an explanation (was norm-violating), nonconscious goal pursuit induced more negative affect than conscious goal pursuit. KW - affect KW - conscious KW - emotion KW - explanation KW - goal KW - introspection KW - norms KW - unconscious AU - Oettingen, Gabriele AU - Grant, Heidi AU - Smith, Pamela AU - Skinner, Mary AU - Gollwitzer, Peter UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2005.10.003 ER -