Regulatory Mode: Locomotion and Assessment as Distinct Orientations

Abstract

This chapter introduces regulatory mode theory and reviews evidence for distinguishing between an assessment mode concerned with making comparisons and a locomotion mode concerned with movement from state to state. It considers locomotion and assessment individually and assumes that the nature and the consequences of locomotion versus assessment are to some extent independent of each other. Evidence is presented to show that high achievement performance depends on individuals emphasizing both locomotion and assessment in their goal pursuits. Higher locomotion and higher assessment are shown to have distinct effects on judgment and decision making—including different preferences regarding decision strategies and leadership styles, different emphases in the decision process, and different self-evaluative judgment styles. The chapter highlights the fact that there are trade-offs to each regulatory mode. It describes studies on chronic individual differences and momentary situational differences in regulatory mode, as well as organizational differences that vary in their fit with regulatory mode.