Is Self-Determined Functioning a Universal Prerequisite for Motive-Goal Congruence? Examining the Domain of Achievement in Three Cultures

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2010.00632.x Byline: Jan Hofer (1), Holger Busch (1), Michael Harris Bond (2), Joscha Kartner (1), Florian Kiessling (3), Ruby Law (4) Abstract: ABSTRACT Research has shown that capacity for accessing implicit motives promotes congruence between the implicit and the explicit motivational system: Individuals able to test a conscious goal for its fit with their implicit motivation commit themselves more fully to self-congruent goals. However, it has not yet been shown whether this is a universal phenomenon or limited to Euro-American cultures in which individual needs are less strictly constrained by the social environment than in other cultural contexts. Thus, the present study examined whether self-determination interacts with the implicit achievement motive to predict how much importance individuals from Cameroon, Germany, and Hong Kong ascribe to achievement goals. Moreover, the importance ascribed to goals should indirectly predict life satisfaction via success in goal realization. Results showed that the associations described above are valid in all three cultural groups and are discussed in terms of their implications for the universal processes characterizing motivation. Author Affiliation: (1)University of Osnabruck (2)Hong Kong Polytechnic University (3)University of Salzburg (4)Chinese University of Hong Kong Article note: Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Jan Hofer, University of Osnabruck, Department of Psychology, Artilleriestr. 34, D-49069 Osnabruck, Germany. E-mail: Jan.Hofer@uos.de.