Glossary / Lexicon

Deutsch: Ziel / Español: Meta / Português: Objetivo / Français: But / Italiano: Obiettivo /

Goal is defined as the target or objective of motivated behavior. Moreover, Goal is defined as: (1) the result or achievement toward which effort is directed (2) an ideas of some desired future state.

Description

In psychology, a "goal" refers to a desired outcome or objective that an individual consciously or unconsciously works towards. Goals play a central role in motivating behavior, guiding decision-making, and shaping psychological processes such as attention, memory, and problem-solving. They provide direction and purpose, helping individuals prioritize actions and allocate resources effectively to achieve desired outcomes. Goals can vary in complexity, specificity, and timeframe, ranging from short-term tasks to long-term aspirations. Psychological theories such as goal-setting theory highlight the importance of setting clear and challenging goals for enhancing motivation and performance. Goal pursuit involves a dynamic process of planning, monitoring progress, and adapting strategies in response to feedback and obstacles encountered along the way.

Application Areas

• Goal-setting interventions
• Motivational interviewing
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Achievement motivation research
• Educational psychology
• Organizational psychology

Treatment and Risks

• Treatment: Goal-oriented interventions are widely used in psychotherapy, coaching, and counseling to help individuals clarify their values, identify meaningful goals, and develop strategies for goal attainment. Techniques such as goal-setting, action planning, and self-monitoring are utilized to facilitate behavior change and enhance well-being.
• Risks: Setting unrealistic or overly ambitious goals may lead to frustration, anxiety, or burnout if individuals experience repeated failure or setbacks in goal pursuit. Additionally, rigid adherence to goals without flexibility or consideration of changing circumstances can undermine psychological well-being and interpersonal relationships.

Examples

• A person sets a goal to exercise for 30 minutes three times a week to improve physical fitness.
• A student sets a goal to achieve a specific grade on an upcoming exam and develops a study plan to achieve it.
• An individual in therapy sets a goal to improve communication skills and practices active listening techniques in their daily interactions.

Similar Concepts and Synonyms

• Objective
• Target
• Aim
• Purpose
• Ambition
• Intention

Weblinks

• quality-database.eu: 'Goal' in the glossary of the quality-database.eu
• umweltdatenbank.de: 'Ziel' im Lexikon der umweltdatenbank.de (German)

Articles with 'Goal' in the title

• Goal Achievement: Goal Achievement: Goal achievement in the psychology context refers to the process and outcome of successfully meeting objectives or milestones that an individual or group has set for themselves
• Goal Setting: Goal Setting refers to a psychological skill commonly used for enhancing motivation and for focusing attention upon the aspects of performance that are most in need of improvement
• Goal setting and treatment planning stage: Goal setting and treatment planning stage : Goal setting and treatment planning stage refers to Stage 3 of the Helping relationship, with its primary goal being to specify expected outcomes of the counseling process
• Goal-corrected partnership: IGoal-corrected partnership is a term used in Bowlby's Attachment theory which refers to the capacity that emerges in toddlerhood and early school age in which children begin to find more flexible and adaptive ways to maintain proximity wit . . .
• Documenting the attainment of goals: Documenting the attainment of goals refers to the third aspect of treatment planning. It provides the clinician with a tool to substantiate the work being done and confirm the efficacy of one’s work
• Achievement goals: Achievement goals refer to targets people aspire to in achievement situations.
• Performance goal: Performance goal refers to a state of affairs in which one’s primary objective in an achievement context is to display one’s competencies or to avoid looking incompetent
• Common goal: Common goal refers to an aim or purpose shared by members of a group.
• Competitive goal structure: Competitive goal structure: Competitive goal structure is a term used when students work against each other to achieve goals that only a few students can attain
• Cooperative goal structure: Cooperative goal structure: Cooperative goal structure it is when students work together to accomplish shared goals.
• Goal gradient effect: Goal gradient effect: Goal gradient effect refers to an increase in the strength and/or efficiency of responding as one draws near to the goal.
• Goal-directed behavior: Goal-directed behavior refers to means-end problem solving, seen first in the latter part of the first year.
• Individualized goal structure: Individualized goal structure: Individualized goal structure means one student’s achievement of the goal is unrelated to other students’ achievement of that goal
• Learning goal: Learning goal: Learning goal refers to state of affairs in which one’s primary objective in an achievement context is to increase one’s skills or abilities
• U.S. Dietary Goals: The US. Dietary Goals are a series of nutritional goals to achieve better health for the American population: 58% carbohydrate- 30% fat (no more than 10% saturated fat) and 12% protein
• Ability goals: Ability goals: Ability goals refers to goals based on a desire to be superior to others
• Approach goals: Approach goals refers to goals framed in terms of desired outcomes or experiences, such as learning to scuba dive.
• Avoidance goals: Avoidance goals : Avoidance goals refers to the goals framed in terms of avoiding unpleasant experiences, such as trying not to look foolish in public

Summary

In psychology, goals are desired outcomes that individuals strive to achieve, guiding behavior and shaping psychological processes. Goals play a central role in motivation, decision-making, and performance across various domains of life. Effective goal pursuit involves setting clear, challenging goals, monitoring progress, and adapting strategies in response to feedback and obstacles. However, setting unrealistic goals or rigidly adhering to them can lead to negative psychological outcomes. Thus, understanding goal-setting processes and employing evidence-based strategies are essential for promoting well-being and success.

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