Interesting. When I first read that title the first thing that came to mind was, “That is not what I believe!,” yet after skimming the article I understand and agree with its point.
“It’s very surprising,” says study co-author Peter Gollwitzer, a professor of psychology at New York University. “We always think that if we talk about our intentions, we’ll feel obligated to enact them . . . But when it comes to identity goals, our (study’s) message is: don’t make them public.”
They are talking about a very specific kind of goal, and then the real example hit and I realize I see it often in our everyday life:
“(Take) a mother who talks about all the great things she’s going to do for her kids — help them do better in school, get better test scores, give them extra training — while all the other mothers nod in approval,” says Gollwitzer. “The chances are high that she won’t do as much as she could to achieve those goals because she’s already viewed as an ideal mother just by sharing her wonderful intentions.”
It may not be in 100% correct syntax, however, I see the point — bottom line, as usual, actions speak deeper than words.
Surf to the full article at the Montreal Gazette.