目标内容效应及其心理机制

Goal Content Effects and Their Psychological Mechanism

以自我决定论为基础的目标内容理论认为，内部目标是指反映个体的内在成长趋向的目标，如自我接受、亲密关系、健康等；外部目标是指如何获得外部奖赏或社会赞许，通过获得外部的价值给别人留下深刻的印象等目标，如财富、权力、地位等。大量的研究表明内、外部目标有着不同的效应，而基本心理需要（关系、胜任、自主）是被证实的能解释内、外部目标内容效应的心理机制。在未来的研究中除了更深入地去探讨其心理机制之外，还要积极进行本土化的实证研究。

Based on self-determination theory， the goal content theory maintains that intrinsic goals refer to the goals reflecting the trends of the individual intrinsic growth. Intrinsic goals include those for， self acceptance， affiliation and physical health. In contrast， extrinsic goals are primarily concerned with obtaining some reward or social praise. Financial success， image， and popularity are common extrinsic goals. A great number of studies show that intrinsic goals and extrinsic goals have different effects， and basic psychological needs (autonomy， competence， relatedness) are the psychological mechanism proved to explain the goals content effects. Future research should be more conducted on the psychological mechanism. What’s more， more studies based on the Chinese culture are needed as they have important practical meaning in China.