Consider how you could improve goal specificity by focusing on the various dimensional characteristics of goals (e.g., importance, difficulty, specificity, temporal rage, level of consciousness, and connectedness/complexity).

Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphotoWeek 5: Goals and IncentivesClose your eyes and visualize something that you really want to do. Would you like to build a dream house? Start your own company? Retire early? Learn to ride a horse? The possibilities are endless. What increases your likelihood of achieving that goal? Why are you motivated to achieve that particular goal? And when you have a challenging goal, how will you stay motivated along the way? This week you will explore the importance of clarifying your goals and discover the possible sources of your goals. You also will consider how the value of incentives can increase or decrease your motivation as you take steps toward achieving your goals.Learning ObjectivesStudents will:Apply the concepts of goal specificityExplain sources of goalsApply concepts related to incentive valueApply the concept of independent vs. interdependent culture to goal settingIdentify and apply definitions and concepts related to goals and incentivesLearning ResourcesRequired ReadingsDeckers, L. (2018). Motivation: Biological, psychological, and environmental (5th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.Chapter 10, “Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation”Chapter 11, “Goal Motivation” (pp. 341-356) Oishi, S., & Diener, E. (2001). Goals, culture, and subjective well-being. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27(12), 1674–1682.The article examines independent and interdependent goal pursuits in different cultures.Optional Resources Dweck, C. S. (2017). From needs to goals and representations: Foundations for a unified theory of motivation, personality and development. Psychological Review, 124, 689-719. Karlen, Y., Suter, F., Hirt, C., & Maag Merki, K. (2019). The role of implicit theories in students’ grit, achievement goals, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and achievement in the context of a long-term challenging task. Learning and Individual Differences, 74, 1-12. TED (Producer). (2013). Angela Lee Duckworth: Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_grit_the_power_of_passion_and_perseverance?language=enDiscussion: GoalsGoals motivate behavior because people take action to achieve them. Goal specificity refers to whether a goal is vague or specific. It is one factor that may influence the likelihood of working toward (motivation) and/or achieving a goal. An individual is more likely to achieve a clearly defined goal than a vague goal. For example, a swimmer may select a vague goal, such as winning a swim meet. That swimmer is more likely to succeed by setting a specific goal, such as winning first place in the statewide 100-meter butterfly competition next season. The swimmer can then schedule training to meet the deadline, focus on a specific length of race, and practice a particular type of swimming stroke.Another factor that influences motivation and ultimate goal achievement is goal source. In the psychology of motivation, the term goal source is used to identify the origin of the goal. Several different sources may offer explanations. One goal source is association with affect, which is either a negative feeling or a positive feeling. If a goal is associated with negative affect, the goal is set in order to avoid something that is or will be unpleasant. For example, the swimmer may set a goal in order to avoid losing his or her place on the team. If a goal is associated with positive affect, the goal is set in order to achieve something that is pleasant. For instance, the swimmer may set a goal of winning a statewide meet in order to advance to a national level of competition.Another possible goal source is need satisfaction. People may set goals to satisfy physiological needs, such as hunger, or psychological needs like achievement, power, cognition, esteem, autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The swimmer may be motivated to satisfy a need for relatedness in seeking the social relationships available at statewide events.Self-efficacy also may be the source of a goal. People may set goals in order to feel confident about their skills in particular areas. The swimmer may set the goal of winning first place in order to confirm that he or she is a capable swimmer. Additionally, people may set goals because they are influenced by other people. The swimmer may set a goal of winning a meet in response to the coach’s encouragement. A single goal may have one or many sources of motivation.To prepare for this Discussion:Review Chapter 11 in your textbook (pages 341-370), “Goal Motivation.”View Carol Dweck’s 2014 TED Talk on Developing a growth Mindset https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiiEeMN7vbQConsider one goal that you have achieved in your personal, academic, or career endeavors.Create one goal for yourself that you have yet to achieve in your personal, academic, or career endeavors.Reflect on a possible source for each of your goals (e.g., levels of aspiration, association of goals with affect, goals that satisfy needs, self-efficacy, or environmentally activated goals).Consider how you could improve goal specificity by focusing on the various dimensional characteristics of goals (e.g., importance, difficulty, specificity, temporal rage, level of consciousness, and connectedness/complexity).Reflect on Dweck’s (TED, 2014) ideas on the growth versus fixed mindsets and goal achievement. With these thoughts in mind:By Day 4By Day 4, describe one goal that you have achieved in your personal, academic, or career endeavors. Then share a new goal in your personal, academic, or career that you have yet to achieve. Briefly describe the source for each goal (levels of aspiration, association of goals with affect, goals that satisfy needs, self-efficacy, or environmentally activated goals). How did the source impact the goal you have achieved? How may the source impact the goal you have yet to achieve? Analyze how you could improve goal specificity for the goal that you have yet to achieve to enhance the likelihood of achieving that goal. How do Carol Dweck’s ideas on growth versus fixed mindset relate to the achievement of your goals? Finally, how does Dweck’s idea that you have “yet” to achieve a goal tie into having a growth mindset and how can you use this to help you achieve your goal?Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.(A little bit of my back ground and a goal I accomplished was becoming a nurse) my next goal is get my bachelors in health and science and psychology with behavioral and be able to work with troubled kids and be able to help them)