Social psychologist Emily Balcetis shares her insights on how our perceptions of the world influence our motivations and life goals.
She discusses the science of setting and achieving goals, and how altering our perceptions can lead to better results in life.
Perception and Motivation
Our perception of the world fuels our motivations and life goals.
By changing the way we see the world and where we place our focus, we can get better results in life.
Focus and Performance
The ability to control and direct our attention plays a significant role in our performance and success.
People who effectively use the strategy of ramping up narrowed attention and ramping down wide attention tend to perform better, especially in tasks like running races.
Middle Stage in Goal Achievement
The middle stage of goal achievement can often be the most challenging, as the initial excitement has worn off and the end goal still seems far away.
However, intentionally focusing on the finish line can provide a burst of motivation, particularly for those who are already committed to their goal.
Our visual experiences are often misrepresentations. We form an imperfect impression and our eager mind fills in the gaps… yet we can take advantage of this if we know when and why it happens. – Emily Balcetis
Goal Gradient Hypothesis
The goal gradient hypothesis suggests that as we get closer to achieving our goal, we tend to double down on our efforts.
This concept was initially studied in animals but has been found to apply to humans as well.
Perception-Reality Gap
The Perception-Reality Gap is the difference between what we perceive and what is actually there.
This gap, influenced by our physical construction and mental states, can lead to a miscalibration of our perceptions.
Understanding this gap can help us make more informed decisions and set more realistic goals.
Environment and Habits
Our environment significantly influences the formation of new habits.
Strategically organizing our environment, such as placing running shoes near the door as a reminder to exercise, can aid in achieving our goals.
The Process of Seeing
Seeing is not just about what light lands on our retinas, but it’s about making sense of that information.
Our brain uses what we already know and relies on our memories to quickly piece together the information we receive from the world around us.
What you focus on not only impacts what you see but actually changes how you interpret the world. – Emily Balcetis
Narrowing Attention and High Performance
High performers often use the strategy of narrowing attention towards the end of a goal.
This strategy, which involves ramping up narrowed attention and ramping down wide attention as they near the end of their goal, is correlated with high performance.
Sub-Goals and Motivation
Setting sub-goals can help maintain motivation, especially during the middle phase of goal achievement, which is often the most challenging part.
Sub-goals can be a way of tricking ourselves into moving the finish line closer, thereby increasing our motivation to achieve it.
Motivation and Perception
Motivation can alter our visual experiences.
Highly motivated individuals, even those with a higher waist-to-hip ratio, might perceive distances as shorter, similar to those with a lower ratio.
This suggests that our visual experiences are not just reflective of the world around us, but are also influenced by our physical capabilities and our mental states.
Embracing the Perception-Reality Gap
The Perception-Reality Gap can be used as a source of power and control.
By intentionally directing our attention, we can change our perceptions and improve our performance.
Visual Experiences and Decision Making
Our visual experiences are often misrepresentations, with our mind filling in the gaps to form an imperfect impression of the world.
Understanding when and why this happens can help us make better decisions, both big and small.
