
The Pam Carey Show
Each Monday we will dive into ideas big and small: from psychology to philosophy, and from economics to fitness. Each episode is designed to spark curiosity and connection. The goal is to explore alongside like-minded people, as if sharing a conversation over tea. Have a thought on a past episode or an idea for a future one? You’re always invited to leave a voice message or write in at the links below, and I may bring your message into a future episode. Together we’ll unpack the questions and stories that shape how we live, think, and grow.
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This podcast is a production of Bounding Husky LLC doing business as Pamela Carey Enterprises
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional or licensed psychologist
The Pam Carey Show
Should we tell people about our goals or keep them to ourselves?
In this episode we will examine the psychology of goal setting through personal anecdotes and the research to see if we should share about our projects, goals, and dreams or if we are more likely to stay motivated and achieve them if we keep our objectives to ourselves. We will explore how this ties in with extrinsic vs intrinsic motivation and how identity shapes actions. We will also discuss frameworks that may allow us to get the best of both worlds, considering that there is evidence on each side of this camp - team accountability and team grind in silence. Let’s get into it!
Video version of the episode: https://youtu.be/Ox_8gX64KVw
Sources:
TED Talk by Derek Sivers:
https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_keep_your_goals_to_yourself
Meta-analysis demonstrating making goals public can be helpful:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26479070/
Study on accountability and goals:
https://scholar.dominican.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=psychology-faculty-conference-presentations
Drive by Daniel Pink - goes into intrinsic motivation more
https://www.danpink.com/books/drive/
Study that goes into extrinsic and intrinsic rewards
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1974-10497-001