Goal conflict and well-being: A review and hierarchical model of goal conflict, ambivalence, self-discrepancy and self-concordance

Citation

Kelly RE, Mansell W & Wood AM (2015) Goal conflict and well-being: A review and hierarchical model of goal conflict, ambivalence, self-discrepancy and self-concordance. Personality and Individual Differences, 85, pp. 212-229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.05.011

Abstract
his paper reviews empirical evidence for associations between goal conflict, ambivalence, self-discrepancy, self-concordance and well-being. The research indicates that goal conflict, ambivalence and discrepancy impede well-being, whilst concordance promotes well-being. The evidence was strongest for ambivalence, self-discrepancy, and self-concordance, and weakest for goal conflict. A hierarchical conceptualisation of the four related constructs is presented. Goal conflict, ambivalence, and self-discrepancy may occur at different levels within a goal hierarchy, which ranges from abstract, high level goals to low-level, concrete goals. Self-concordance is conceptualised as a property of the goal hierarchy, where goals are un-conflicted and facilitate intrinsic motivations and needs. Conflict at multiple or higher levels in the hierarchy may pose greaterproblemsfor well-being.

Keywords
Goal conflict; Ambivalence; Self-discrepancy; Self-concordance; Hierarchical; Well-being

Journal
Personality and Individual Differences: Volume 85