In psychology today, intention an important idea when it comes to understanding why people do what they do. Some theories in psychology explain behavior by looking at internal conflicts or external factors that influence us. However, the modern view is that actions are purposeful and focused on achieving something in the future.
For example, when we talk about the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1985), it says that our attitudes, what we think others expect from us, and how much control we feel we have over our actions all play a part in forming our intentions. So, if we have a positive attitude about exercise and think others will approve of us being physically active, we are more likely to intend to change our inactive habits.
People often explain their behavior by talking about their intentions. They do things on purpose to achieve specific goals. Sometimes, these intentions are linked in a hierarchy, where a big goal, like losing weight, is connected to smaller goals, like making a training schedule and buying sports equipment (Hacker, 2003).
In social situations, we also try to figure out what others’ intentions are. Understanding someone’s intentions helps us interpret their actions correctly and respond appropriately. For example, in team sports, misinterpreting a teammate’s intentions can lead to mistakes and coordination problems.
Ajzen, I. (1985). From intentions to actions: A theory of planned behavior. In J. Kuhl, & J. Beckmann (Eds.), Action control: From cognition to behavior (pp. 11 39). Berlin: Springer.
Hacker, W. (2003). Action regulation theory: A practical tool for the design of modern work processes? European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 12, 105 130.
