Citation

Frank JD. J. Exp. Psychol. 1935; 18(2): 159-171.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1935, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/h0060980

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Changes in the level of performance in one task affect the height of the first level of aspiration in another. The extent of this effect depends on the degree to which the two tasks are objectively similar. Changes in the level of performance in one task affect the average height of the remaining levels of aspiration in another in some cases. This effect seems to be independent of the degree of objective similarity of the tasks, and to depend rather on individual factors. There is no evidence that these two types of effect are related. The results obtained are shown to accord well with the hypothesis that the level of aspiration represents on the one hand an objective estimate of the future levels of performance on the basis of past levels of performance, and on the other a means of protecting the ego-level when this is involved in the task. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)