possibility…

Slow and steady to the top

Photo: L. Solonynko

Much is written about the benefits of goal setting and articulating our dreams. It seems, however, that goals may be even more important than we thought. In 2008, psychologists Baruch Eitam, Ran Hassin and Yaacov Schul at Hebrew University studied the benefit of “non-conscious goal pursuit”–moving toward a desired goal without being aware of doing so–in new environments.

They noted that until their research, it was believed that non-conscious goal pursuit only reproduced formerly learned actions, and was thus ineffective in mastering a new skill. Eitam and colleagues argue the opposite: that non-conscious goal pursuit can help people achieve their goals, even in a new environment, in which they have no prior experience.

Goal setting leads to “learning on auto pilot”
After their two recent studies, these researchers say, “Taken together, both studies suggest that the powerful, unintentional, mechanism of implicit learning is related to our non-conscious wanting and works towards attaining our non-conscious goals.” Implicit learning, according to Dr. Darlene Howard at Georgetown University, is the kind of learning that “has been called by various names including ‘learning by osmosis’, ‘thinking without thinking’, and ‘the adaptive unconscious’.”

Based on Eitam, Hassin and Schul’s work, once we have identified our goals, we can work toward achieving them even when we’re not consciously thinking about them. Moreover, we unconsciously work toward them even in new situations where we may be preoccupied with unfamiliar activities. This sounds almost too good to be true. But, personally, I’m going to try being a bit more focussed in defining my goals. What do I have to lose? Let me know about ways you use goal setting to increase your change-ability.

Eitam et al’s research results were published in the March 2008 issue of Psychological Science. Read more in the press release.

Goal setting resources
Personal Goal Setting
Mind Tools: Essential Skills for an Excellent Career

For a humourous look at goal setting check Goal Setting for Skeptics by Gina Trapani at Lifehacker blog