📗 Kruglanski et al. (2015)

Question 1

What is multifinality in goal systems theory?

Answer 1

When a single means serves multiple goals.

Question 2

Why is multifinality appealing?

Answer 2

It lets you achieve multiple outcomes with one action.

Question 3

What is a real-world example of multifinality?

Answer 3

Riding a bike to both stay fit and reduce your carbon footprint.

Question 4

What is the dilution effect in multifinality?

Answer 4

The perceived effectiveness of a means decreases as it’s linked to more goals.

Question 5

Why does the dilution effect happen?

Answer 5

Each goal-means connection weakens as more goals are added, due to the fan effect.

Question 6

What is the fan effect?

Answer 6

The more associations a cognitive node has, the weaker each one becomes.

Question 7

What’s the practical outcome of the dilution effect?

Answer 7

People may choose unifinal means when only one goal is active.

Question 8

What is the multifinality constraints effect?

Answer 8

When multiple goals are active, people prefer means that serve all of them.

Question 9

When do people apply the multifinality constraints effect?

Answer 9

When the goals are equally important or when they can realistically be pursued together.

Question 10

What happens if the goals have no overlapping means?

Answer 10

People may abandon multifinality and pick a unifinal means instead.

Question 11

How does feasibility of finding a shared means affect choice?

Answer 11

The less feasible it is to find one means for multiple goals, the less people restrict their means set.

Question 12

Can implicit (unconscious) goals influence multifinality?

Answer 12

Yes, people often choose means that serve both conscious and unconscious goals.

Question 13

What’s an example of multifinality with implicit goals?

Answer 13

Choosing socks that satisfy a conscious quality goal and an unconscious speed goal.

Question 14

Do implicit goals always win out?

Answer 14

No, if a unifinal means is clearly better for the conscious goal, it is usually chosen.

Question 15

What role does goal satisfaction play in multifinality?

Answer 15

Once a background goal is satisfied, the appeal of multifinal means serving it is reduced.

Question 16

How do people behave when only one goal is active?

Answer 16

They tend to choose the most instrumental unifinal means.

Question 17

What is the locomotion self-regulatory mode?

Answer 17

A tendency focused on movement, progress, and action.

Question 18

What is the assessment self-regulatory mode?

Answer 18

A tendency focused on evaluation, comparison, and critical analysis.

Question 19

How does locomotion influence means preference?

Answer 19

People high in locomotion prefer unifinal means with strong goal links.

Question 20

How does assessment influence means preference?

Answer 20

People high in assessment prefer multifinal means that offer more value.

Question 21

Are regulatory modes fixed traits?

Answer 21

No, they can also be temporarily activated by situational cues.

Question 22

What is equifinality in goal systems theory?

Answer 22

When multiple means serve the same goal.

Question 23

What is an example of equifinality?

Answer 23

Reaching fitness goals through running, swimming, or yoga.

Question 24

What is substitutability?

Answer 24

The ability to switch from one means to another to reach the same goal.

Question 25

How does equifinality relate to flexibility?

Answer 25

It gives people options to adapt if one means becomes blocked.

Question 26

What effect does equifinality have on goal commitment?

Answer 26

More means → greater confidence → stronger goal commitment.

Question 27

Why does having more means increase goal value?

Answer 27

It signals importance and attainability of the goal (availability heuristic).

Question 28

What effect does equifinality have on means commitment?

Answer 28

More means → less dependence on any one means → weaker commitment to individual means.

Question 29

Why does increased equifinality reduce means commitment?

Answer 29

Because alternatives reduce reliance on any specific path.

Question 30

How does equifinality cause dilution?

Answer 30

Linking many means to one goal reduces the perceived effectiveness of each.

Question 31

What is counterfinality?

Answer 31

When a means helps one goal but harms another.

Question 32

What’s an example of counterfinality?

Answer 32

Studying all night improves grades but damages health.

Question 33

Why would someone accept a counterfinal means?

Answer 33

Because the primary goal is more important than the one being harmed.

Question 34

How does cost influence perceived value in counterfinality?

Answer 34

Sacrificing something may signal that the goal is more meaningful.

Question 35

What role does goal magnitude play in counterfinality?

Answer 35

The more important the goal, the more people tolerate harm to other goals.

Question 36

How does attainment expectancy affect counterfinality?

Answer 36

If success seems likely, people are more willing to accept harmful trade-offs.

Question 37

How does counterfinality relate to addiction?

Answer 37

Addictive behaviors can start as goal-serving (e.g., stress relief) but later undermine health.

Question 38

Can counterfinality cause conflicting motivations?

Answer 38

Yes, because the same means helps one goal and hurts another.

Question 39

What is substitutability in goal systems theory?

Answer 39

The idea that different means can be swapped to reach the same goal.

Question 40

Why is substitutability important?

Answer 40

It makes goal pursuit more resilient when obstacles arise.

Question 41

How does substitutability affect motivation?

Answer 41

It increases goal commitment but decreases reliance on specific means.