The effect of goal involvement on self‐regulatory processes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the role that goal involvement may have in impacting aspects of self‐regulation under negative feedback conditions. In two separate experiments, athletes (N1 = 31; N2 = 37) were placed in either a task‐ or ego‐involving condition and engaged in three trials of a motor task in which they received negative feedback. At the end of the task, participants completed manipulation check items, a strategy use measure, and items representing self‐defeating thoughts. The achievement goal conditions and negative feedback were successfully manipulated. In the first experiment, a one‐way MANOVA revealed that those athletes receiving the task involvement induction used more self‐regulatory and self‐control strategies and fewer self‐defeating thoughts than participants under the ego involvement induction. In the second experiment, athletes in the task‐involving condition used more self‐regulatory strategies than those in the ego‐involving condition. These results suggested that focusing on task involvement might help athletes engage in more effective self‐regulatory processes.