Vikleyn M.V., Grishina N.V. The conceptual function of goal setting in everyday activities

Being in the flow of social changes and adjusting to them through personal self-change, a person solves various adaptive problems, thus making his/her life activity more effective. The high dynamism of everyday life requires daily engagement in setting and achieving various goals. The research is devoted to the study of human life goals and the semantic function of goal setting in everyday activity. The hypotheses aim to identify the relationship between the realization of goals in everyday activity and the sense of meaningfulness. The participants of the study (N = 110) are categorized as young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 and are students from various educational fields. Quantitative research methods include: the questionnaire “Life position of personality” by D.A. Leontiev, A.E. Shilmanskaya, and the “Realness” methodology by Hopwood Christopher J. and Good Evan W. Data processing included correlation analysis, factor analysis, and regression analysis. Qualitative methods are represented by the author's phenomenological semi-structured interview. The study of the personality's experience of goal-setting was carried out based on the results of the analysis of the phenomenological interview. Semantic units such as thoughts, feelings, actions, reflection of values in goals, ability to influence one's life, satisfaction with life, satisfaction with everyday life, fear of the future, lack of influence on life, and difficulties in setting goals were revealed. According to the results of quantitative data processing, it was found that people who realize their distant plans in everyday activity feel a sense of meaningful saturation of life. People tend to formulate goals according to their values. The ability to be oneself is connected with an active life position, harmony with life, and meaningfulness of life. The realization of goals in everyday activity is influenced by harmony with life. 

Key words: goal, near and far goals, authentic goals, meaning of life, daily activity

For citation: Vikleyn, M.V., Grishina, N.V. (2024). The conceptual function of goal setting in everyday activities. New Psychological Research, No. 2, 60–81. DOI: 10.51217/npsyresearch_2024_04_02_03