4.2 Why Set Goals?

Why Do People Set Goals?

Setting goals can be helpful in many contexts, including around health behaviors, academics, professional development, or personal aspirations. Goals are not just intentions; goals imply a deeper sense of commitment to action beyond valuing a certain change or result. For example, an individual may truly believe that changing their diet would benefit their health, but that belief alone does not always guide behavior change.

When we think about why people set goals, the reasons vary:

• Goals can provide a sense of purpose.
• Goals might help relieve boredom when it comes to repetitive or not-as-enjoyable tasks.
• Goals may help increase motivation.
• Goals provide one way to measure progress or success.
• It feels good when a goal is achieved.
• Individuals may strive for recognition or rewards from others by setting and meeting goals.
• Some goal setting may be influenced by expectations from another person, like a supervisor.

The Benefits of Setting Goals

Turning an intention into a goal might not always be necessary, but goal setting has its benefits. Setting an actual goal can:

• Help boost intrinsic motivation
• Stimulate planning and forethought
• Provide a destination of sorts and an opportunity to monitor progress toward that destination
• Foster self-control with commitment
• Lead to greater persistence and greater effort (Locke & Latham, 1990)
• Lead an individual to take calculated risks or extend outside their comfort zone
• Provide a timeline, sense of urgency, or a push to get started.