Publications [#272659] of Gráinne Fitzsimons

Journal Articles

1. vanDellen, MR; Shea, CT; Davisson, EK; Koval, CZ; Fitzsimons, GM, Motivated misperception: Self-regulatory resources affect goal appraisals, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, vol. 53 (January, 2014), pp. 118-124, Elsevier BV, ISSN 0022-1031 [doi]
   (last updated on 2026/01/17)

   Abstract:
   Three studies examine how self-regulatory resources affect goal appraisals, finding support for the hypothesis that when low in self-regulatory resources, individuals endorse statements that rationalize either inaction or less effortful goal pursuit. Study 1 examines appraisals of self-set personal goals, finding that resource-depleted participants describe their goals as less urgent and less consequential. Study 2 examines reappraisals of weight loss goals, replicating the effects of Study 1. Finally, Study 3 examines this reappraisal process in the context of a broader societal goal of environmental conservation. This work contributes a new perspective to the large literature on resource depletion by demonstrating that depletion alters cognition in ways that may excuse the well-documented decrease in behavioral pursuit that arises from resource depletion. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.