Locke, E. A. (1968). Toward a theory of task motivation and incentives. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 3, 157-189.

Individuals tend to strive harder to improve task performance when a norm of high achievement exists within the group.

Implication. When groups of athletes set goals, the achievement level needs to be on the difficult or high-aspiration side rather than comfortably low. With high goal standards, performances are likely to be maximal.

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