I Can't Take My Eyes Off of It – Attention Attraction Effects of Implementation Intentions

Abstract

Implementation intentions (“If situation X is encountered, I will perform behavior Y”) have been shown to improve goal attainment, relative to mere goal intentions, through automating action control. So far, they have only been examined with regard to three features of automaticity without testing the uncontrollability of implementation intention effects. In two studies on the impact of implementation intentions on visual attention, support was found for the uncontrollability of their effects. Implementation intentions attracted attention (i.e., a situational cue X disrupted attention from a focal task) even during the pursuit of different goals, more than goal intentions. In addition, the regulation of the action control through implementation intentions in response to these attention attraction effects was examined in a subsequent task. Improved performance co–occurred with attention attraction, indicating that no disengagement from the implementation intention took place. Implications for the application of implementation intentions are discussed.