People often resort to superstitious behavior to facilitate goal achievement. We examined whether... more People often resort to superstitious behavior to facilitate goal achievement. We examined whether the specific type of achievement goal pursued influences the propensity to engage in superstitious behavior. Across six studies, we found that performance goals were more likely than learning goals to elicit superstitious behavior. Participants were more likely to engage in superstitious behavior at high than at low levels of chronic performance orientation, but superstitious behavior was not influenced by chronic learning orientation (Studies 1 and 2). Similarly, participants exhibited stronger preferences for lucky items when primed to pursue performance goals rather than learning goals (Studies 3 and 4). As uncertainty of goal achievement increased, superstitious behavior increased when participants pursued performance goals but not learning goals (Study 5). Finally, assignment to use a lucky (vs. unlucky) item resulted in greater confidence of achieving performance goals but not learning goals (Study 6).
People often resort to superstitious behavior to facilitate goal achievement. We examined whether... more People often resort to superstitious behavior to facilitate goal achievement. We examined whether the specific type of achievement goal pursued influences the propensity to engage in superstitious behavior. Across six studies, we found that performance goals were more likely than learning goals to elicit superstitious behavior. Participants were more likely to engage in superstitious behavior at high than at low levels of chronic performance orientation, but superstitious behavior was not influenced by chronic learning orientation (Studies 1 and 2). Similarly, participants exhibited stronger preferences for lucky items when primed to pursue performance goals rather than learning goals (Studies 3 and 4). As uncertainty of goal achievement increased, superstitious behavior increased when participants pursued performance goals but not learning goals (Study 5). Finally, assignment to use a lucky (vs. unlucky) item resulted in greater confidence of achieving performance goals but not learning goals (Study 6).
Uploads
Papers by Eric Hamerman
achievement goal pursued influences the propensity to engage in superstitious behavior. Across six studies, we found that
performance goals were more likely than learning goals to elicit superstitious behavior. Participants were more likely to
engage in superstitious behavior at high than at low levels of chronic performance orientation, but superstitious behavior
was not influenced by chronic learning orientation (Studies 1 and 2). Similarly, participants exhibited stronger preferences
for lucky items when primed to pursue performance goals rather than learning goals (Studies 3 and 4). As uncertainty of goal
achievement increased, superstitious behavior increased when participants pursued performance goals but not learning goals
(Study 5). Finally, assignment to use a lucky (vs. unlucky) item resulted in greater confidence of achieving performance goals
but not learning goals (Study 6).
achievement goal pursued influences the propensity to engage in superstitious behavior. Across six studies, we found that
performance goals were more likely than learning goals to elicit superstitious behavior. Participants were more likely to
engage in superstitious behavior at high than at low levels of chronic performance orientation, but superstitious behavior
was not influenced by chronic learning orientation (Studies 1 and 2). Similarly, participants exhibited stronger preferences
for lucky items when primed to pursue performance goals rather than learning goals (Studies 3 and 4). As uncertainty of goal
achievement increased, superstitious behavior increased when participants pursued performance goals but not learning goals
(Study 5). Finally, assignment to use a lucky (vs. unlucky) item resulted in greater confidence of achieving performance goals
but not learning goals (Study 6).