Goal desires moderate intention-behaviour relations

Previous research has largely ignored the potential impact of goal-related constructs on behaviour. Three studies addressed this issue by examining the direct and moderated effects of goal desires on behaviour. All of the studies required participants to complete baseline measures and then a follow-up indicator of behaviour. In the first study (N=119) that focused on fruit intake, and studies 2 (N=123) and 3 (N=96) concerned with drinking alcohol, goal desires interacted with behavioural intentions to affect behaviour. Specifically, behavioural intentions were more reliably related to behaviour when goal desires were strong. The results of the third study suggested that in order to obtain such interactive effects, the strength of the overarching goal must remain stable. The findings reveal that goals and behavioural intentions can operate simultaneously and jointly influence action, a view that contradicts postulations that the effects of goals are fully mediated by more proximal behavioural determinants.