The Psychology of Goals Edited by Gordon B. Moskowitz, Heidi Grant This tightly edited volume brings together leading authorities to review the breadth of current knowledge about goals and their key role in human behavior. Presented are basic concepts, cutting-edge theories and findings, and innovative research designs that yield new insights into how people strive toward particular ends and avoid less desired outcomes. The book provides an overview of the biological, cognitive, affective, and social underpinnings of goals, as well as their relationship to other motivational constructs. It explores both conscious and nonconscious processes in goal selection and pursuit. Topics include how people juggle multiple, sometimes conflicting aims; personal and environmental factors that support success in achieving goals; and the costs and benefits of pursuing different types of goals, such as gaining approval versus developing competence. Ways that individuals monitor their progress toward goals and disengage from unsuccessful ones are discussed. Chapters feature engaging concrete examples from studies that look at goals from a variety of perspectives. Implications are considered for numerous aspects of individual functioning and well-being, including social interactions, emotions, health behaviors, and achievement. Summarizing the state of the science and identifying key directions for future research, this is an important reference for social and personality psychologists, as well as others interested in motivations and goal pursuit. The book's clear, logical structure makes it ideal text for advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level courses. Gordon B. Moskowitz, PhD, is a social psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology at Lehigh University. His research examines the relationship between social cognition and goals, with particular emphasis on the implicit nature of each. [...] Heidi Grant, PhD, is a social psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Lehigh University. Her primary interest lies in understanding individual responses to setbacks and challenges, and how these responses are shaped by the types of goals pursued. […]