Relational mechanisms in the goal pursuit process

Four studies tested a model for goal pursuit, which proposed three relational mechanisms that yield motives for a goal. These motives, in turn, predict goal outcomes, but the association was expected to be stronger among women than among men. Study 1 ( n  = 116) tested the model for a short‐term, collaborative project between strangers; Study 2 ( n  = 186) examined parents being motivated by their children to be healthier; Study 3 ( n  = 124) examined nontraditional college students' career searches; and Study 4 ( n  = 181) examined young adults' progress toward a self‐improvement goal. Results showed support for the model in all four studies, with the exception that feeling accountable to others was not a consistent predictor of relational motives.