Goal paralysis: How bad luck affects goal commitment

Prior research on luck has mostly focused on people’s attributions as to what causes it and how it affects behavior where luck is presumed to be central to the outcome (e.g., a gamble or lottery). The present research investigates the effect of luck on behavior where it is not presumed to be central to shaping the outcome—specifically, goal commitment. Four experiments show that bad luck induces goal paralysis by decreasing people’s commitment to their goals. This goal paralysis occurs because bad luck reduces people’s belief that they are capable of successfully executing behaviors (i.e., reduced self-efficacy) which undermines their subsequent willingness to exert effort at their goals. In addition, we identify goal expectancies as a moderating factor that can eliminate the demotivating effect of bad luck on goal commitment. Implications and potential extensions in the areas of luck, self-efficacy, and motivation are discussed.