Abstract
Sixteen human subjects participated in two experiments investigating level of aspiration in a standard matching-to-sample task. Subjects responded on a computer keyboard and entered scores that they expected to receive (target scores) on subsequent sessions. Scores subjects actually received were preprogrammed to reflect particular types of performance trends and did not reflect subjects’ true performances. In both experiments, differences between subjects’ aspirations and reported performance were smaller when performance scores reflected an upward trend than when they reflected a downward trend. In addition, subjects adjusted target scores in a manner consistently reflecting performance in the immediately preceding session. The results were interpreted as indicative of the kinds of advantages afforded by a within-subject investigation of aspiration and similar individual difference variables
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
CHAPMAN, D. W., & VOLKMANN, J. (1939). A social determinant of the level of aspiration. Journal of Abnormal Social Psychology, 34, 225–238.
FESTINGER, L. (1942). Wish, expectation and group standards as factors influencing the level of aspiration. Journal of Abnormal Social Psychology, 37, 184–200.
FRANK, J. D. (1935). Individual differences in certain aspects of the level of aspiration. American Journal of Psychology, 47, 119–128.
FRANK, J. D. (1941). Recent studies of the level of aspiration. Psychological Bulletin, 38, 218–225.
GARDNER, J. W. (1938). Personality correlates of level of aspiration. Psychological Bulletin, 38, 586.
GARDNER, J. W. (1939). Level of aspiration in response to a prearranged sequence of scores. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 25, 601–621.
GILINSKY, A. S., & STEWART, J. D. (1949). “Extinction” of a success aspiration following three conditions of reinforcement. American Psychologist, 4, 222–223.
GOULD, R., & KAPLAN, N. (1940). The relationship of “level of aspiration” to academic and personality factors. Journal of Social Psychology, 11, 31–40.
HARZEM, P. (1984). Experimental analysis of individual differences and personality. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 42, 385–395.
HOLT, R. R. (1946). Level of aspiration: Ambition or defense? Journal of Experimental Psychology, 36, 398–416.
LEWIN, K., DEMBO, T., FESTINGER, L., & SEARS, P. S. (1944). Level of aspiration. In J. M. Hunt (Ed.), Personality and the behavior disorders. New York: Ronald Press.
MARR, M. J. (1984). Conceptual approaches and issues. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 42, 353–362.
MILLER, H. L., Jr. (1983). More than promissory? Reflections on the once and future experimental analysis of human behavior. The Psychological Record, 33, 551–564.
MORGAN, D. L, & BUSKIST, W. (1987). “Level of aspiration”: Preference for time versus response feedback and history effects on the setting of personal performance standards. The Psychological Record, 37, 199–211.
SEARS, P. S. (1941). Level of aspiration in relation to some variables of personality: Clinical studies. Journal of Social Psychology, 14, 311–336.
STEISEL, I. M., & COHEN, B. D. (1951). The effects of two degrees of failure on level of aspiration and performance. Journal of Abnormal Social Psychology, 46, 79–82.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The reported data were collected as part of a doctoral dissertation by the first author.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Morgan, D.L., Buskist, W. Level of Aspiration II: Effects Of Recent Performance History. Psychol Rec 39, 515–528 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395079
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395079