Why Sisyphus keeps rolling his rock to the top: A functional analysis of action orientation and goal disengagement

Prof. Nils B. Jostmann (University of Amsterdam)

15 octobre 2013, 16h, Uni-Mail M5193

When goals become unexpectedly difficult, people are confronted with a fundamental goal dilemma: should they hang on to their goals or rather let them go? Classic perspectives on this dilemma have emphasized the importance of people's beliefs regarding the costs and benefits of goal persistence versus goal disengagement. In my talk, I take a functional perspective which is grounded in Personality Systems Interactions theory (Kuhl, 2000). According to this functional perspective, disengagement involves the updating of working memory such that unattainable goals are erased and alternative goals can be processed. Updating of working memory is facilitated among action-oriented individuals compared to state-oriented individuals, especially under demanding conditions. Affect Regulation is assumed to underlie these processes. I will present empirical findings that support this analysis.