RESEARCH_FILE
Peter M. Gollwitzer
New York University / University of Konstanz
Known for:Originator of implementation intention theory — the if-then planning format that links situational cues to pre-decided goal-directed responses, dramatically improving follow-through over goal intentions alone
SEE THE PRACTICE
Turn a thought this research explains into one clear move.
THE THOUGHT
“I'll start on Monday”
YOUR RECORDED RESPONSE
“Monday is not the gate; it is just a day.”
ONE PRIVATE MOVE
Before the day ends, set out the materials for the task and make one private mark on paper that belongs to it: a title, a list of three pieces, or a rough first line. Leave everything else alone.
Key findings
- 1999
Gollwitzer proposed that the if-then plan format ('When situation Y, I will do Z') heightens the mental accessibility of the specified cue, so the behavior is triggered automatically when that cue is encountered — bypassing the need for renewed deliberate effort. Implementation Intentions: Strong Effects of Simple Plans ↗
- 2006
With Paschal Sheeran, Gollwitzer conducted a meta-analysis of 94 studies and found d = 0.65 across varied goal domains, establishing implementation intentions as one of the most reliable self-regulation tools in the social-scientific evidence base. Implementation Intentions and Goal Achievement: A Meta-analysis of Effects and Processes ↗