What Does the Self Want? Contingencies of Self-Worth and Goals

This volume is designed to address the gap between two perspectives on motivation: that of the goals literature and that of the self literature. In Ihis chapter, we argue that people often hinge their self-esteem on their achievement of particular goals. We consider the consequences of pursuing goals in the service of one&s;s self-esteem, versus pursuing those same goals when one&s;s selfworth is not on the line. We argue that when self-esteem is entrained to success al achieving one&s;s goals, those goals have powerful, but mixed, motivational consequences. People may strive with particular intensity to achieve goals that are linked to their sense of their own self.worth. but they also may react particularly badly when their efforts meet with obstacles.