Emotion-regulation strategy use and commitment to a performance goal: the role of reappraisal tactics

Goal attainment hinges on persistent goal commitment. In two identical experiments (N total = 391), we examined whether the way in which people regulate their emotions when they receive performance feedback influences their commitment to a high performance goal. We manipulated participants’ use of reappraisal or distraction in response to performance feedback and tested the hypothesis that reappraisal (vs. distraction) use is associated with increased goal commitment as reflected in an increased likelihood to complete a bonus round of the experimental task. We further examined the role of goal importance and goal feasibility as mediating variables. Overall, our hypothesis that reappraisal (vs. distraction) strengthens goal commitment (via goal importance and goal importance) was not supported. However, exploratory analyses indicated that how people use reappraisal rather than whether they use it has consequences for their goal commitment. Participants who used an action-focused reappraisal (vs. distraction) were more likely to complete the bonus round and reported high goal feasibility. There was also some evidence for a positive effect on goal importance. Using any other reappraisal (vs. distraction) did not have significant effects on the outcomes. Finally, mediation analyses revealed positive direct and total effects of action-focused reappraisals (vs. distraction) on goal commitment. High goal importance (but not high goal feasibility) was also associated with stronger goal commitment. These results highlight emotion-regulation strategy use as a novel factor impacting goal commitment. Moreover, they show the importance of considering reappraisal tactics when studying the intersection of goal- and emotion-regulation.