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Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences pp 1–4Cite as

Performance Goals

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Synonyms

Aims; Aspirations; Objectives; Targets

Performance Goals

The purposes of a specific action. More especially, a set of short-term or long-term objectives for mastering the skills for executing certain tasks. In other words, what an individual is intending to accomplish.

Introduction

Goals are spread through all realms of existence. For example, an organization may have a goal to earn the desired profits, a gymnast may have a goal to master the balance beam, and a couple may have a goal for a peaceful marriage. Thus, goals lies on a spectrum, with many subdivisions of goal types and motivation to achieve the goals. This chapter will briefly discuss the effects of goal pursuit on performance, goal setting as a state, moderators of setting goals effectively, as well as the opportunity costs related to goal pursuits.

Effect of Goal Pursuit on Performance

According to Locke and Latham (2002), having a goal affects performance in four ways. First, goal pursuit has a directive...

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References

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  • Seijts, G. H., Latham, G. P., Tasa, K., & Latham, B. W. (2004). Goal setting and goal orientation: An integration of two different yet related literatures. Academy of Management Journal, 47(2), 227–239.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA

    Zizhong (David) Xiao

  2. Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA, USA

    Zizhong (David) Xiao

Authors
  1. Zizhong (David) Xiao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zizhong (David) Xiao .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland University, Rochester, USA

    Virgil Zeigler-Hill

  2. Oakland University, Rochester, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Psychology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    John F. Rauthmann

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Xiao, Z.(. (2018). Performance Goals. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1868-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1868-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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