Type of Document	Thesis
Author	Coyle, Jacqueline M.
URN	etd-07152009-142014
Title	Approaching Your Goal: Affects of Goal Pursuits on Motor Actions
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Psychology, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Michael P. Kaschak Committee Chair Colleen Kelley Committee Member Joyce Ehrlinger Committee Member
Keywords	Goals Embodiment Approach and Avoidance
Date of Defense	2009-07-02
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract This study uses two experiments to explore the extent to which goal pursuits affect automatic motor responses. At the beginning of each experiment, participants were given experiences that induced certain goal states. Participants then completed a lexical decision task in which they responded (using approach and avoidance arm movements) to stimuli consistent with, irrelevant to, or in opposition to achieving their goal. Of interest was whether facilitation of the responses occurred when the direction of the movement (approaching or avoiding the stimuli) was consistent with achieving one’s goal (and whether inhibition of the responses occurred when the direction of the movement was in opposition to one achieve one’s goal). The results of both experiments show that participants’ responses were not affected by their goal-states as predicted. Possible explanations are discussed.
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