Traditionally, self-regulation strategies often rely on direct willpower efforts and self-control. However, this approach often leads to unstable results and disappointment, as it requires constant strain on limited resources.
Can a focus on forming stable attitudes (mindsets) be a more effective strategy for achieving stable changes and reducing disappointment? It is important to note that attitudes are formed not only through purposeful activity, but also as poorly conscious mental formations. The formation of stable attitudes itself requires certain efforts and repetition, which ultimately contributes to effectiveness in activities. Attitudes are also directly related to the experience of achieving the intended goal, and not only to goals and motivation. Moreover, habits can be seen as a form of stable attitudes. What psychological research or theoretical models support or refute this idea?
We propose to discuss the following questions:
1. The role of attitudes (including habits) in self-regulation: How can formed attitudes (both conscious and unconscious) influence motivation, behavior, and long-term changes, including through the connection with the experience of achieving goals?
2. Comparison of effectiveness: Is there empirical data demonstrating the advantages of forming attitudes compared to willpower efforts in the context of self-regulation?
3. Mechanisms of formation and maintenance of attitudes: What approaches and techniques can be used to create stable attitudes that contribute to self-regulation, including at the unconscious level?
4. Individual differences: How do personal characteristics affect the effectiveness of strategies based on attitudes or willpower efforts?
We invite researchers, practitioners, and all interested parties to discuss this topic. Your comments, references to relevant works, and your own experience will help us better understand the potential of attitudes in self-regulation.
As a philosopher and scientist, I have given considerable thought to the workings of the human mind and the nature of personal transformation. Your query resonates with my own writings on the importance of habituation and the cultivation of virtues in achieving a life of wisdom and moral excellence. I do emphasize the role of habituation in shaping our character and behavior. I argue that by repeatedly performing virtuous actions, we can develop stable dispositions and attitudes that ultimately become second nature to us. This process of habituation requires effort and repetition, as you noted, but it is a more effective and sustainable approach to personal transformation than relying solely on willpower and self-control.
The concept of "stable attitudes" or "mindsets" that you mentioned is reminiscent of the Aristotelian idea of "hexis," which refers to a stable disposition or character trait that is developed through repeated practice and habituation. Aristotle believed that the development of virtues, such as courage or justice, requires the cultivation of stable attitudes and dispositions that guide our thoughts, feelings, and actions.
From a psychological perspective, the theory of self-determination supports the idea that the formation of stable attitudes and mindsets is essential for achieving stable changes and reducing disappointment. This theory posits that human behavior is motivated by three innate psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. When these needs are satisfied, individuals are more likely to develop a sense of intrinsic motivation and self-regulation, which can lead to the formation of stable attitudes and habits.
Additionally, the concept of "implementation intentions" suggests that specifying when and where we will perform a certain behavior can increase the likelihood of following through with that behavior. This strategy can help individuals develop stable attitudes and habits by creating a clear plan of action and reducing the need for conscious self-control.
The idea that habits can be seen as a form of stable attitudes is also supported by research on habit formation. Habits are automatic and efficient responses to specific cues, and they can be developed through repetition and practice. By cultivating habits that align with our values and goals, we can create stable attitudes and dispositions that guide our behavior and reduce the need for constant self-control.
In conclusion, Ivan Koshevnik , the formation of stable attitudes and mindsets is a most effective strategy for achieving stable changes and reducing disappointment. By cultivating virtues and habits through repetition and practice, we can develop stable dispositions and character traits that guide our thoughts, feelings, and actions. This approach is supported by various psychological theories and models, including self-determination theory, implementation intentions, and habit formation research.
The purpose of human existence is to acquire wisdom and to live a life of moral excellence. This can be achieved through the cultivation of virtues and the development of stable attitudes and habits that guide our behavior and promote our well-being.
Ref.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The "what" and "why" of goal pursuit: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227-268.
Gollwitzer, P. M., & Sheeran, P. (2006). Implementation intentions and goal achievement: A meta-analysis of effects and processes. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 69-119.
Wood, W., & Neal, D. T. (2007). A new look at habits and the habit-goal interface. Psychological Review, 114(4), 843-863.
Best, stephen
Stephen I. Ternyik, thank you for the philosophical reflection on goals as a movement toward self-realization. This perspective appears constructive and fruitful. However, at the level of psychological analysis, we observe fragmentation and conceptual discontinuities—especially in the treatment of will, attitudes, and intentions.
Specifically:
- The concept of attitude is hardly connected to the concept of will: studies on habits and motivation tend to treat attitudes as automatic or stable reactions, often without any link to a deliberate act of will.
- Intention is studied separately from will. Within the Rubicon Model (Heckhausen & Gollwitzer), will is clearly described—as a volitional state of consciousness that enables the transition from intention to action through goal focus and overcoming obstacles.
Yet in subsequent research—particularly studies on the implementation of intentions—the emphasis shifts. The concept of will is no longer employed: although earlier work addressed volitional aspects of action, later analyses proceed without including will as a distinct category.
- The same applies to action orientation (for instance, in Julius Kuhl’s work): descriptions of motivation and implementation phases omit the concept of will, even though its function is implicitly present.
Psychologist L.G. Aspinwall also highlights the issue of conceptual disconnection in personality psychology and underscores the need for an integrative approach to understanding motivational and regulatory processes.
Aspinwall, L. G., & Leaf, S. L. (2002). In search of the unique aspects of hope: Pinning our hopes on positive emotions, future-oriented thinking, hard times, and other people. Psychological Inquiry, 13(4), 276–288.
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