The motivational and instantaneous behavior effects of contexts : steps towards a theory of goal-directed behavior

H. Scheuthle; V. Cariabias-Hütter; F.G. Kaiser

doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2005.tb02210.x

The motivational and instantaneous behavior effects of contexts : steps towards a theory of goal-directed behavior

H. Scheuthle, V. Cariabias-Hütter, F.G. Kaiser

Human Technology Interaction

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

5 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Contextual conditions affect behavior in 2 ways: (a) They confront people with opportunities and obstacles that affect their motivation to take action; or (b) they instantaneously shape performance, regardless of a person's motivation and even without subjective acknowledgment of the conditions. Traditionally in psychology, the immediate behavioral consequences of a context are disregarded. Based on our theory of goal-directed behavior, we are able to disentangle the instant and the motivational behavioral consequences of contexts. In an example study, 40% of the variation in performance among 660 Swiss and Spanish pupils was explained by motivational differences. Instantaneous constraints and facilitations imposed on people's acts, in turn, revealed a set of Switzerland- and Spain-specific limitations and affordances (hit rate = 97.5%).

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2076-2093
Journal	Journal of Applied Social Psychology
Volume	35
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2005.tb02210.x
Publication status	Published - 2005

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