Hot streak! Inferences and predictions about goal adherence

• Published in: Organizational behavior and human decision processes Vol. 179; p. 104281
• Main Authors: Silverman, Jackie, Barasch, Alixandra P., Small, Deborah A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.11.2023
• Subjects: Behavioral tracking; Goal pursuit; Inferences; Open science; Patterns; Prediction; Streaks; Open science; Prediction; Streaks; Goal pursuit; Inferences; Patterns; Behavioral tracking
• ISSN: 0749-5978
• DOI: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2023.104281

•Recent streaks of behavior convey meaning relevant for goal pursuit.•A recent streak signals greater commitment to the goal at hand.•Thus, a recent streak increases predictions of future goal adherence.•As a result, a streak decreases the perceived need for costly goal support tools.•People with streaks are also seen as desirable partners in joint goal pursuit. When do people make optimistic forecasts about goal adherence? Nine preregistered studies find that a recent streak of goal-consistent behavior increases the predicted likelihood that the individual will persist, compared to various other patterns holding the rate of goal adherence constant. This effect is due to perceiving a higher level of commitment following a streak. Accordingly, the effect is larger when the behavior requires commitment to stick with it, compared to when the same behavior is enjoyable in its own right. Furthermore, the effect is weaker in the presence of another diagnostic cue of commitment: when the individual has a high historic rate of goal adherence. People also behave strategically in ways consistent with these inferences (e.g., are less likely to adopt costly goal support tools following a streak, choose partners with recent streaks for joint goal pursuit). Together, these results demonstrate the significance of streaky behavior for forecasting goal adherence.