Abstract
The model of fantasy realisation (Oettingen, 2000) specifies mental contrasting of a positive future with negative reality as a strategy that creates strong goal commitments. We propose that fantasies about a positive and negative future produce strong goal commitments when contrasted with the respective reality. The present study supports this hypothesis in the area of reducing cigarette consumption. Mental contrasting of a positive future with negative reality as well as mental contrasting of a negative future with positive reality led to taking immediate action when participants had high expectations of success. Results indicate that both fantasies about a positive future and a negative future can be used to commit to goals that benefit health and prevent disease.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 961-977 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Psychology and Health |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2010 |
Keywords
- Expectations
- Fantasies
- Goal commitment
- Mental contrasting
- Self-regulation
- Smoking reduction
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Applied Psychology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health