This dissertation examines how looking backward and focusing on what one has accomplished so far ("to-date actions") versus looking forward and focusing on what one has yet to accomplish to attain a goal ("to-go actions") influences his or her subsequent goal pursuit.;Specifically, Chapter 1 identifies two factors that increase the motivation to adhere to a goal: goal commitment and lack of goal progress. When people ask about commitment, focusing on what they have accomplished (to date) signals to them high commitment and increases motivation. Conversely, when commitment is certain and people ask about goal progress, focusing on what they have yet to accomplish (to go) signals to them lack of progress and increases motivation. Accordingly, four studies show that emphasizing to-date information increases goal adherence when commitment is uncertain---that is, when participants study for a relatively unimportant exam, consume luxuries, fulfill a desire, and make first-time contributions to a charity. Conversely, emphasizing to-go information increases goal adherence when commitment is certain---that is, when participants study for an important exam, consume necessities, fulfill a need, and make repeated contributions to a charity.;Chapter 2 explores people's pursuit of a series of progressive goals that form a "goal ladder." In a goal ladder, there is often a trade-off between expressing a higher level of aspiration and being satisfied with the present goal. I predict that a focus on upcoming actions (to go) increases the value of goal completion and moving toward a more advanced goal, whereas a focus on completed actions (to date) increases the value of pursuing the present goal. I find support for this prediction across several goal domains, ranging from moving up the academic and the professional ladder to advancing to a higher level on simple, computerized tasks. I also find that people spontaneously attend to information about to-go actions more than to-date actions to motivate higher levels of aspiration.
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