Acta Psychologica· 2026Q1
Disengagement and initiative in self-regulation: The role of action control in spontaneous mental contrasting
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- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Action control, specifically disengagement from failed attempts and initiative to try new strategies, predicts spontaneous mental contrasting (SMC) in international students pursuing academic goals.
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Key points
- Action control, disengagement, and initiative predict spontaneous mental contrasting (SMC).
- SMC links desired futures with current obstacles to strengthen goal commitment.
- Findings apply to international students' academic goal pursuit in China.
- Individual differences in self-regulatory style are crucial for goal attainment.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Effective goal pursuit depends not only on setting goals but also on the cognitive strategies individuals use to regulate their actions. Among these strategies, spontaneous mental contrasting (SMC) is particularly important, as it links desired futures with current obstacles to strengthen goal commitment and follow-through. This study examined whether action versus state orientation, as conceptualized in action control theory, predicts the use of SMC for academic goals among international students in China. Across a correlational study (Study 1) and an experimental priming study (Study 2). In particular, the dimensions of action orientation, disengagement, and initiative emerged as significant predictors of SMC. These findings highlight the importance of disengagement and initiative in supporting spontaneous self-regulation through mental contrasting and suggest that individual differences in self-regulatory style play a critical role in academic goal pursuit.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Acta Psychologica, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Applied Psychology
Applied PsychologyPsychology