Goals, Plans, & Actions Theory
General Purpose: a model of message production
Specific Purpose: to explain how people produce messages
Key terms, concepts, and definitions:
Goals are defined as future states an individual wants to attain. There are two types of goals. Primary goals or push goals are the goals that motivate or push one to speak, and they determine the plans and actions. An example of primary goals would be asking for advice or permission. People have various schemata, or prototypes for achieving these goals. These schemata drive actions. For example, if you want coffee, the schema may be to drive to the coffee shop, ask for a latte, and give the cashier money. Secondary goals, also called pull goals are sets of boundaries that limit plans. There are four categories of secondary goals: identity goals, interaction goals, resource goals, and arousal management goals. Identity goals are related to the self-concept, including ethical standards and preferences for conduct. Interaction goals refer to the social-appropriateness of an action and managing the public impression. Resource goals deal with increasing or maintaining value assets, which can be both personal and relational. Arousal management goals include maintaining the desired level of arousal.
Plans are cognitive reproduction of the goal in directed action sequences. Plans are unlike scripts, schemata, and general knowledge structures because they very specific.
What does the theory do?
This is an important model of message production. It explains how people produce messages through the sequence of having goals, planning on how to attain them, and then acting on those plans.
Where can it be applied?
It can be used in a variety of contexts, including in constructivism to explain how people produce influence messages.
Summary source:
Dillard, J.P. (2008). Goals-plans-action theory of message production. In L. Baxter and D.
Braithwaite (Eds.), Engaging theories in interpersonal communication: Multiple
Perspectives (pp. 65-76). Thousand Oaks CA: Sage.
Exemplar article:
Henningsen, M.L.M., Valde, K.S., & Denbow, J. (2013). Academic Misconduct: A
Goals-Plans-Action Approach to Peer Confrontation and Whistle-Blowing.
Communication Education, 62, 148-168. doi: 10.1080/03634523.2012.752509
Henningsen, M.L.M., Valde, K.S., Russell, G.A., & Russell, G.R. (2011). Student-Faculty
Interactions about Disappointing Grades: Application of the Goals-Plans-Actions Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior. Communication Education, 60, 174-190. doi: 10.1080/03634523.2010.533378
Specific Purpose: to explain how people produce messages
Key terms, concepts, and definitions:
Goals are defined as future states an individual wants to attain. There are two types of goals. Primary goals or push goals are the goals that motivate or push one to speak, and they determine the plans and actions. An example of primary goals would be asking for advice or permission. People have various schemata, or prototypes for achieving these goals. These schemata drive actions. For example, if you want coffee, the schema may be to drive to the coffee shop, ask for a latte, and give the cashier money. Secondary goals, also called pull goals are sets of boundaries that limit plans. There are four categories of secondary goals: identity goals, interaction goals, resource goals, and arousal management goals. Identity goals are related to the self-concept, including ethical standards and preferences for conduct. Interaction goals refer to the social-appropriateness of an action and managing the public impression. Resource goals deal with increasing or maintaining value assets, which can be both personal and relational. Arousal management goals include maintaining the desired level of arousal.
Plans are cognitive reproduction of the goal in directed action sequences. Plans are unlike scripts, schemata, and general knowledge structures because they very specific.
What does the theory do?
This is an important model of message production. It explains how people produce messages through the sequence of having goals, planning on how to attain them, and then acting on those plans.
Where can it be applied?
It can be used in a variety of contexts, including in constructivism to explain how people produce influence messages.
Summary source:
Dillard, J.P. (2008). Goals-plans-action theory of message production. In L. Baxter and D.
Braithwaite (Eds.), Engaging theories in interpersonal communication: Multiple
Perspectives (pp. 65-76). Thousand Oaks CA: Sage.
Exemplar article:
Henningsen, M.L.M., Valde, K.S., & Denbow, J. (2013). Academic Misconduct: A
Goals-Plans-Action Approach to Peer Confrontation and Whistle-Blowing.
Communication Education, 62, 148-168. doi: 10.1080/03634523.2012.752509
Henningsen, M.L.M., Valde, K.S., Russell, G.A., & Russell, G.R. (2011). Student-Faculty
Interactions about Disappointing Grades: Application of the Goals-Plans-Actions Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior. Communication Education, 60, 174-190. doi: 10.1080/03634523.2010.533378