Goal Setting and Behavior Change
The Stronger By Science Podcast
The Benefits of a Bhat, What Hockley Is Referring to as Superordinate Goals
Hockley: Superordinate goals largely relate to concepts, ideas like self concept. And i think that if you can leverage that, it helps you kind of, like, a leverage cognitive dissonance to your own benefit. So equafinality meansand can i just add something real quick, yes. Hockley: Having this whole hierarchy of goals, including a superordinate goal, reinforces the sustained discrepancy between status quo and desired end point.
In preparation for the new year (and the resolutions that come with it), today’s episode is all about goal setting and behavior change. Eric and Greg have a long, evidence-based conversation about the research on setting effective goals and successfully changing health behaviors. The discussion yields several evidence-based tips for setting better goals and maximally supporting your ability to achieve them.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Receive our Research Spotlight emails, and check out our Facebook group and subreddit.
MacroFactor
- If you want to learn more about our MacroFactor diet app, check it out here.
- To join in on the MacroFactor conversation, check out our Facebook group and subreddit.
Bulk Supplements
Finally, next time you stock up on supplements from BulkSupplements.com, be sure to use the promo code “SBSPOD” (all caps) to get 5% off your entire order.
TIME STAMPS
Intro/Announcements (0:00)
Road to the Stage / Road to Athens (2:29)
Feats of Strength (4:12)
Research Review: Goal setting and behavior change (9:54)
Fake urgency (12:06)
Success rates of New Year’s Resolutions (14:36)
- Auld lang syne: success predictors, change processes, and self-reported outcomes of New Year's resolvers and nonresolvers
- A large-scale experiment on New Year's resolutions: Approach-oriented goals are more successful than avoidance-oriented goals
Temporal landmarks (22:19)
- The Fresh Start Effect: Temporal Landmarks Motivate Aspirational Behavior
- Anticipated Temporal Landmarks Undermine Motivation for Continued Goal Pursuit
SMART goals (27:31)
Creating a goal hierarchy (30:19)
Superordinate goals (34:16)
Equifinality and Multifinality (41:12)
Mental contrasting (44:12)
- Mental contrasting for health behaviour change: a systematic review and meta-analysis of effects and moderator variables
- A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Mental Contrasting With Implementation Intentions on Goal Attainment
Approach versus avoidance (52:37)
Flexible versus rigid restraint (56:16)
Process versus outcome (1:01:28)
Mastery versus performance (1:06:05)
Goal difficulty; “slack with a cost” (1:13:44)
- Goal Setting and Action Planning for Health Behavior Change
- The Benefits of Emergency Reserves: Greater Preference and Persistence for Goals that Have Slack with a Cost
Setting specific goals (1:23:12)
Implementation intentions (1:23:47)
- A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Mental Contrasting With Implementation Intentions on Goal Attainment
- Holding the Hunger Games Hostage at the Gym: An Evaluation of Temptation Bundling
Stimulus control; modifying your environment (1:30:24)
Social support and feedback (1:33:08)
- Periodic Prompts and Reminders in Health Promotion and Health Behavior Interventions: Systematic Review
- Designing in-app messages to nudge behavior change: Lessons learned from a weight management app for young adults
How MacroFactor supports evidence-based goal striving and behavior change (1:45:06)
To Play Us Out: Protein Bread, Winter Break (1:54:54)
MORE FROM THE SBS TEAM
- Work with a Stronger By Science coach: Get personalized training and nutrition plans and ongoing support from one of our expert coaches.
- Join the Research Spotlight newsletter: Our newsletter is the easiest way to stay up to date with the latest exercise and nutrition science.
- Join the SBS Facebook group and Subreddit.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
- Try MacroFactor for free: Use code SBS to get a 14-day free trial of our nutrition app MacroFactor. MacroFactor has the fastest food logger on the market and its smart nutrition coach adapts to your metabolism to keep you on track with your goals. Download it today on the App Store or Google Play.
- BulkSupplements: Next time you stock up on supplements, be sure to use the promo code “SBSPOD” (all caps) to get 5% off your entire order.
- MASS Research Review: Subscribe to the MASS Research Review to get concise and applicable breakdowns of the latest strength, physique, and nutrition research – delivered monthly.
The AI-powered Podcast Player
