M Mindset Theory

According to the mindset theory of action phases (i.e., MAP), goal pursuit can be divided into four successive but distinct action phases, each posing its unique demands and challenges to the individual. Overcoming these challenges is facilitated by the activation of a certain mindset (i.e., a set of activated cognitive procedures), each having its unique features. Mindset theory of action phases is further based on the clear-cut distinction between motivational (i.e., the predecisional and the postactional phases, where the why of pursuing a goal is at issue) and volitional phases (i.e., the preactional and the actional phases, where the how of pursuing a goal is the central question). In the predecisional phase, individuals have to choose between many potential goals (wishes) and thus have to deliberate on feasibilityand desirability-related information, which benefits heavily from the activation of a deliberative mindset. By making a decision to pursue a certain goal, individuals are crossing the metaphorical Rubicon and move on to the preactional phase, where identifying opportunities to act in the future and the choice among strategies (i.e., planning out when, where, and how to act) is of high priority, and therefore an implemental mindset is beneficial. In the subsequent actional phase, individuals act toward the attainment of their chosen goal and direct their attention to cues that signal opportunities to act. In this phase, an actional mindset is activated. Finally, in the postactional phase, individuals evaluate their goal-striving efforts to make an informed decision about whether sufficient progress has been made to claim goal attainment or whether further action is needed, which necessitates an evaluative mindset. The most striking quality of all of these mindsets is their ability to carry over from being elicited during a given individual goal pursuit to unrelated tasks and demands.