Effects of Regulatory Focus in Fantasizing Goal Achievement

The present study investigated the role of regulatory focus in fantasizing goal achievement. Drawing on previous research on fantasy realization and regulatory focus, it was assumed that regulatory focus would affect the content and effect of fantasizing. Specifically, it was expected that in promotion-focused fantasizing, optimistic thoughts would be more prevalent than would obstacle thoughts, and thus the impact of promotion-focused fantasizing in motivating goal-directed behavior would only be weak. In contrast, obstacle thoughts would be more prevalent than optimistic thoughts in prevention-focused fantasizing, and thus the impact of prevention-focused fantasizing in motivating goal-directed behavior would be strong. This hypothesis was tested in an experiment employing college students in Korea. Participants in the promotion focused-fantasy condition freely fantasized their career choice and self-realization in a promotion frame, whereas those in the prevention-focused fantasy condition fantasized their career choice and self-realization in a prevention frame. Using a dual-task paradigm in which participants must allocate their resources effectively and complete the two tasks simultaneously, we found supportive evidence for the research hypothesis. Implications and limitations of the study were discussed.

keywords: Fantasy, Regulatory focus, Positive mood, Motivating goal-directed behavior, 상상, 조절초점, 정적 기분, 목표 행동 동기화

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Article Contents

Vol.31 No.2

Effects of Regulatory Focus in Fantasizing Goal Achievement

Abstract

Reference

Korean Journal of Psychology: General