SELF-ENHANCING AND SELF-DEFEATING EGO ORIENTATION - RELATIONS WITH TASK AND AVOIDANCE ORIENTATION, ACHIEVEMENT, SELF-PERCEPTIONS, AND ANXIETY

Recent research in motivation has identified 2 main goal orientations: task orientation and ego orientation. Two studies of 6th- and 8th-gra de Norwegian students tested the prediction that there are different d imensions of ego orientation (self-defeating and self-enhancing), that they may be separated from other goal orientations, and that they rel ate differently to academic achievement, self-concept, self-efficacy, self-esteem, anxiety, and intrinsic motivation. Results from both stud ies supported the predictions. The correlation between self-defeating and self-enhancing ego orientation was small, and these constructs had different relations to other variables in the study. Self-defeating e go orientation was associated with high anxiety and was negatively rel ated to achievement and self-perceptions. Self-enhancing ego orientati on was positively related to achievement, self-perceptions, and intrin sic motivation.