Books: Goal Systems Theory
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Goal Systems Theory
Psychological Processes and Applications
In 2002, a group of investigators joined forces to propose a new conceptual paradigm based on a cognitive approach to motivation. This approach, referred to as goal systems theory, offered a broad perspective on behavioral phenomena and inspired research programs in diverse domains of psychological science. The present volume collects the rich body of insights and findings that the goal systemic approach has yielded over the last two decades. These are contained in a set of chapters by leading researchers from some of the world’s most renowned universities who pushed the envelopes of their respective fields and discovered new psychological phenomena and relationships through applications of the goal systemic framework.
Praise for Goal Systems Theory
“This book is a celebration of over 20 years of theoretical and empirical work studying Goal Systems Theory. It is well worth celebrating. The initial ambitious vision for this theory was to revise the study of motivation, and, impressively, it has done just that. It is extremely rare for a theory to have the breadth and depth displayed here. We used to call such theories ‘Grand’, and the research and ideas discussed in this book are grand indeed. And inspiring. This is a milestone that is must reading for anyone interested in motivation science.”
— E. Tory Higgins, Professor of Psychology, Columbia University, author of Beyond Pleasure and Pain: How Motivation Works
“Do you have more than one goal? Then this book is for you! Like the stars in the sky, goals wax and wane, harmonize, conflict, or live next to each other. Diving into this volume summarizing the unique research on goal systems, will give you access to a new universe of discovery and surprise, of guidance and practical advice. A uniquely fruitful collaboration of world-leading scientists over the past two decades will lead you through their research journey into the sky of goal systems.”
— Gabriele Oettingen, Professor of Psychology, New York University, author of Rethinking Positive Thinking: Inside the New Science of Motivation
“Pursuing goals is one of the most universal and basic human activities. In this exceptional book, leading experts summarize their contributions to Goal Systems Theory, grappling with diverse and fascinating aspects of how people think about, select, desire, manage, and achieve (or fail to achieve) their goals. This book covers the latest and most creative work in the field. It is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in human goal pursuit — which is to say, anyone interested in human motivation.”
— Roy F. Baumeister, Professor of Psychology University of Queensland
“Goal psychology is emerging as a hub of many areas of scholarship in the behavioral and social sciences. Goal Systems Theory has ushered a paradigmatic reorientation of this field by uncovering the means-end architecture of the systems of individuals’ goals. This timely book presents a comprehensive and integrative review of the important lessons learned over the last two decades from research inspired by Goal Systems Theory. The diverse programs of research by the contributors to this book, renowned motivation science scholars, attest to the explanatory power of Goal Systems Theory and its rich implications for the betterment of individual and societal functioning. I recommend this authoritative book as a valuable resource for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, as well as researchers and practitioners in psychology and the social sciences.”
— Yaacov Trope, Professor of Psychology, New York University
“Goal Systems Theory has been an especially generative model of motivation for the field of psychology in general and for me in particular. Commemorating two decades of research, this volume stands as testament to this theory’s breadth of influence as well as a harbinger of advances to come. Required reading for anyone who wants to know why and how people pursue the goals they do.”
— Angela Duckworth, Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, author of Grit
“Goal Systems Theory is a marvelous compilation of essays that will help readers better understand, navigate and achieve their multiple goals. Whether you’re a scholar of motivation interested in the latest research or a curious novice ready to learn about goal systems from the world’s experts, this book is for you.”
— Katy Milkman, Professor of Business, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, author of How to Change
“Goal Systems Theory is the most important advance in decades in our understanding of human motivation. It revolutionizes classic ideas such as intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, how people juggle multiple goals, and the relation between means and goal outcomes. This volume presents novel directions and the latest research on goal systems, explaining political extremism, risk taking, flow, problem solving, and identity. It is simply a must-read for all social and behavioral scientists as well as anyone interested in why people do what they do. I can’t overstate the significance of this book.”
— Wendy Wood, Professor of Psychology and Business, University of Southern California, author of Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes that Stick
“Goal Systems Theory is among the towering achievements of twenty-first-century motivation science. Its power was readily apparent upon publication of the landmark 2002 paper introducing the theory, and yet its influence has grown in ways that were hard to fathom at the time. This essential book captures the power and scope of the theory across domains ranging from attitudes to problem-solving, from risky behavior to extremism. These chapters are required reading for anybody seeking to understand the nature of goals, motivation, or self-regulation.”
— Eli Finkel, Professor, Northwestern University, author of The All-Or-Nothing Marriage