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Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine pp 1043–1048Cite as

Implementation Intentions

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Definition

Implementation intentions are if-then plans that spell out in advance how one wants to strive for a set goal. For the if-component, a critical cue is selected (e.g., a good opportunity, an anticipated obstacle) that is linked to a goal-directed response in the then-component. Implementation intentions are known to enhance the rate of goal attainment. They do so by delegating action control to situational cues thus endowing action control with features of automaticity.

Description

Successful goal pursuit requires solving both of two subsequent tasks: first, strongly committing to goals, and then, effectively implementing them. Accordingly, strongly committing to a goal is a necessary but not sufficient step towards goal attainment. Indeed, effective goal pursuit may be hampered by various problems such as failing to get started and to stay on track as well as overextending oneself. Finally, people may fail to disengage from futile means and unattainable goals. Meta-analytic...

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References and Readings

  • Gollwitzer, P. M. (1999). Implementation intentions: Strong effects of simple plans. American Psychologist, 54, 493–503.

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  • Gollwitzer, P. M., & Oettingen, G. (2011). Planning promotes goal striving. In K. D. Vohs & R. F. Baumeister (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications (2nd ed., pp. 162–185). New York\London: Guilford Press.

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  • Oettingen, G., & Gollwitzer, P. M. (2010). Strategies of setting and implementing goals: Mental contrasting and implementation intentions. In J. E. Maddux & J. P. Tangney (Eds.), Social psychological foundations of clinical psychology (pp. 114–135). New York: Guilford Press.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, New York University, 6 Washington Place, Room 780, 10003, New York, NY, USA

    Prof. Peter M. Gollwitzer

  2. Department of Psychology, New York University, 6 Washington Place, Room 781, 10003, New York, NY, USA

    Prof. Gabriele Oettingen

Authors
  1. Prof. Peter M. Gollwitzer
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  2. Prof. Gabriele Oettingen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter M. Gollwitzer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioral Medicine Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA

    Marc D. Gellman

  2. Cardiovascular Safety, Quintiles, Durham, NC, USA

    J. Rick Turner

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© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media, New York

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Cite this entry

Gollwitzer, P.M., Oettingen, G. (2013). Implementation Intentions. In: Gellman, M.D., Turner, J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_1710

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_1710

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1004-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1005-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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