lecture 3: implementation intentions

Question 1

are intentions good predictors of behavior?

Answer 1

Sheeran (2002): intentions explain 28% of variance in behavior
- medium-large change in intentions –> small-medium change behavior

Question 2

explanations for the intention-behavior gap

Answer 2

1. intention viability
   - intentions can only be realized when you have control over the behavior
   - abilities, resources, opportunities
2. intention activation
   - environment/context can als activate different goals
   - temptation: short vs. long term goals
   - people ‘forget’ or re-prioritize their goals
3. intention elaboration
   - intentions can only be realized when you think trough all actions needed to reach your goals
   - health behavior = complex

Question 3

article gollwitzer reducing intention-behavior gap results

Answer 3

RQ: to reduce the gap between intentions and behavior: we use implementation intentions: when situation Y happens, I do - example: when it’s tuesday evening, I will go to the gym

• creating association between mental representation situation and goal-directed response (if-then-plans)

Question 4

why do intention implementations work?

Answer 4

1. thinking about a good oppurtunity to act beforehand, makes this situation cognitively more accesible
2. thinking about how to respond beforehand, makes it more likely you automize this reaction
3. passing control of one’s behavior on to the environment (creating strong cue-response)

Question 5

article webb & sheeran results effect of implementations

Answer 5

aim: test if cue accessibility and the strong cue-response link together mediate the effect of implementations on goal achievement
4 existing and 4 non-words
implementation: see avenda, press quickly
control: respond quickly to avenda by familiarizing yourself with this word

goal achievement: how fast did they respond to avenda in the word search puzzle?

results: both mediated the effect of implementations on goal achievement

Question 6

results article Milne et al about implementations

Answer 6

hypotheses: PMT intervention (health info) influences PMT-cognitions (vulnerability, severity, fear, self and response efficacy) + greater intentions (PMT is a socio-cognitive model)

condition 1: health info based on PMT
condition 2: health info based on PMT + implementations
dependent variables: exercise intention/behavior,

results:
- only positive effect on behavior if health info + implementation intention