The Goal Setting Theory[edit]
The Goal Setting Theory was developed by Locke in 1968, in order to explain human actions in specific work situations [6] . The theory argues that goals and intentions are cognitive and willful, and that they serve as mediators of human actions and that our needs and our goals are mediated by our values, which determine what is beneficial for us.
The two most important findings of this theory are that setting specific goals (e.g., I want to earn $500 more a month) generates higher levels of performance than setting general goals (e.g., I want to earn more money), and that goals that are hard to achieve are linearly and positively connected to performance: The harder the goal, the more a person will work to reach it.[6] Goals are proposed to mediate the influence of incentives and feedback on performance. The model has spawned much research, and this has supported these predictions.
A goal is described as a specified level of efficiency in a certain area, usually to be reached under a time limit. Goals have two characteristics: content, and intensity. Content refers to the chosen achievement (e.g., I want to form a loving relationship). Intensity refers to the quantity of physical and mental resources needed to create or achieve the content. The original model proposed by Locke consisted of five steps: Environmental Stimuli → Cognition → Evaluation → Intentions Goal Setting → Performance.