Personal goals and psychological growth: testing an intervention to enhance goal attainment and personality integration

J Pers. 2002 Feb;70(1):5-31. doi: 10.1111/1467-6494.00176.

Abstract

We hypothesized that semester goal attainment provides a route to short-term psychological growth. In an attempt to enhance this process, we randomly assigned participants to either a goal-training program or to a control condition. Although there were no main effects of program participation on later goal attainment, important interactions were found. Consistent with a "prepared to benefit" model, participants already high in goal-based measures of personality integration perceived the program as most useful and benefited the most from the program in terms of goal attainment. As a result, they became even more integrated and also increased in their levels of psychosocial well-being and vitality. Implications for theories of short-term growth and positive change are discussed, as is the unanswered question of how to help less-integrated persons grow.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Goals*
  • Human Development*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Missouri
  • Personality Development*
  • Psychotherapy / methods*
  • Regression Analysis