Tierra Stimson

Psychology Department

University of California Riverside

Riverside, CA 92521

tstim001@ucr.edu

My research examines motivational processes and their outcomes by examining individuals’ goals in important life domains (e.g., academics and social relationships).  Selecting appropriate goals and doing well at them has the potential to increase positive outcomes such as happiness. But what are the factors that lead to appropriate goal choice and attainment?  What people choose to do may be determined by personal factors, such as personality traits and attitudes or by past or present background characteristics, such as financial support and physical, emotional, or intellectual setbacks.  These factors may also determine why people succeed at what they choose to do.  I have developed a goal attainment model as a framework for examining the important predictors of goal choice and attainment and the outcomes associated with success and failure.