DEFINE

From thinking to acting: Examining delays of intention fulfillment in everyday life

01.11.2025 bis 31.10.2028

The ability to plan and carry out actions in the future is a fundamental aspect of goal-directed behavior in everyday life. While previous research—especially in the field of prospective memory—has extensively studied intentions tied to specific future points in time, such as remembering to complete a task on a certain day, real-life intentions are often more flexible. They can typically be fulfilled over extended time periods and allow for multiple opportunities for completion. Moreover, these intentions frequently compete with each other, requiring individuals to prioritize and continually reassess when and whether to act.
Despite the relevance of such dynamics in daily life, delays in intention fulfillment have rarely been examined in contexts that allow for flexible timing and competing goals. Most existing studies focus on single-point intentions under controlled conditions, offering limited insight into how people manage multiple, overlapping goals in real-world settings.
To address this gap, the present project introduces the concept of "deadlined intentions"—intentions that must be fulfilled within a certain timeframe but not at a fixed moment. Through a series of field studies using a novel paradigm that combines experimental and correlational methods, the project aims to investigate the factors that influence delays in intention fulfillment and the cognitive processes underlying them in ecologically valid environments.
By doing so, the research seeks to broaden our understanding of intention fulfillment toward a more realistic model of goal-directed behavior.