Academic Goals and Emotions: A Test of Two Models

Motivational goal orientations were postulated to be forms of defensive mechanisms and to be associated with specific emotions. Structural equation models were tested to determine whether emotions could be predicted from motivational goal orientation or whether motivational goal orientation would be predicted from emotions. Seventy-nine fifth-grade students responded to a self-report motivation questionnaire. Results supported the model in which emotions were predictive of goal orientation but not the model in which goal orientation was predictive of emotions. Parameter estimates suggest that certain emotions are closely associated with certain goal orientations.