WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WE CHOOSE TO EAT THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT?: EFFECTS OF INDULGENCE AUTONOMY ON POST-TEMPTATION MOTIVATION

Abstract

To most, yielding to temptations is inevitable during the course of goal pursuit. Making matters worse, many often find themselves giving up on their goals after indulging in their temptations as a result of a lack of motivation to continue pursuit. As such, the present study sought to investigate the post-temptation elaboration processes that determine one’s motivation to continue goal pursuit. Noting the influence of autonomy as a predictor of goal attainment and motivational behavior, the effect of one’s indulgence autonomy on their post-temptation motivation was studied by manipulating participants’ perceptions of succumbing to temptations and the autonomy they had when they indulged. Results obtained revealed that perceiving higher autonomy predicted a greater motivation for continued goal pursuit. These findings hence extend and corroborate the findings of previous research, providing insight into the relationship between autonomy and motivation following one’s indulgence in temptations.