An Exclusionary Or Integrative Approach to Goal Conflict: the Moderating Role of Mindset Abstraction

Abstract

Pursuit of a certain goal (i.e., managing weight) is often chal lenged by the presence of alternative goals (i.e., enjoying a tasty chocolate cake). How individuals solve this goal conflict and manage multiple goals has been an important topic of self-regulation (Em mons King & Sheldon 1993; Shah 2005). Because multiple goals compete for one’s available resources, the classic approach to resolving goal conflict usually involves a tradeoff. An individual has to exercise a goal choice through (1) goal prioritization: focusing on more important goals and temporarily withdrawing alternative goals (Shah 2005; Simon 1967) or (2) goal shielding: cognitively inhibiting alternative goals that..