ABSTRACT
G oals are “internal representations of desired states” (Austin & Vancouver, 1996, p. 338), and goal intentions are people’s self-instructions to achieve these desired states or to perform actions directed toward attaining them (e.g., “I will fi nish this chapter by dawn!”; Triandis, 1980). Translating one’s goals into action is a complex process fraught with potential obstacles. Take, for example, New Year’s resolutions. More than 60% of adults make New Year’s resolutions, yet only 9% keep them for a whole year (PR Newswire, 1996). In fact, almost one third of people who make resolutions keep them for less than 1 week (PR Newswire, 1996). The small odds of turning such goals into action have even led mental health charities to warn against forming New Year’s resolutions (BBC, 2009).
