Looking Forward: The Effect of the Best-Possible-Self Intervention on Thriving Through Relative Intrinsic Goal Pursuits

Johannes Bodo Heekerens () and Kathrin Heinitz ()
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Johannes Bodo Heekerens: Freie Universität Berlin
Kathrin Heinitz: Freie Universität Berlin

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2019, vol. 20, issue 5, No 4, 1379-1395

Abstract: Abstract How do positive interventions work? We hypothesized that an increase in the importance individuals place on intrinsic rather than extrinsic goal pursuits (relative intrinsic goal pursuits; RIGP) explains the effectiveness of the best possible self (BPS) intervention. We randomized 128 mainly female psychology undergraduates to perform either the BPS intervention or a daily activities control. We assessed thriving (comprehensive inventory of thriving) and RIGP (Aspiration Index) before, immediately after, and 2 weeks after the intervention. Results from a cross-lagged panel design path analysis indicate that the BPS intervention effectively increased thriving (r = .11, p = .010). However, RIGP do not mediate the intervention effect (95% CI [− 0.01, 0.01]). Our results challenge predictions derived from self-determination theory. We suggest that future studies test goal ambivalence as a mediator.

Keywords: Positive psychology intervention; Best-possible-self; Well-being; Thriving; Life goal; Self-determination theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1007/s10902-018-9999-6

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