CONDITIONAL GOAL SETTING, GOAL ATTAINABILITY, AND ENTITY MINDSET IN VOLITIONAL PERSONALITY CHANGE GOALS

Abstract

This research explores the mechanisms involved in volitional personality change goals (conditional goal setting, perceived goal attainability, and entity mindset of personality) and their relation to psychological outcomes. Participants from a student sample (n = 478) completed measures of personality traits, entity/incremental mindset of personality, and psychological outcomes (depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and subjective well-being). Those with volitional personality change goals also completed goal-related questionnaires. Results showed that the majority of participants held volitional personality change goals. Conditional goal setting was negatively associated, while goal attainability was positively associated, with psychological outcomes. Entity mindset did not significantly predict psychological outcomes in the context of volitional personality change goals. Exploratory mediation models showed that goal attainability significantly mediated the effect of personality and goal-related factors on psychological outcomes. Findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of volitional personality change, and suggest how individuals can set volitional personality change goals in psychologically healthy ways.