Are Good Intentions Enough? Encouraging Regular Savings Through Implementation Intentions

Are Good Intentions Enough? Encouraging Regular Savings Through Implementation Intentions

7 July, 2020    

This study concerns the implications of Gollwitzer’s (1993) concept of implementation intentions. Intention, attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control and past behavior from for Ajzen’s (1985) Theory of Planned Behavior were used to measure the motivation of participants’ of an “America Saves” campaign to save regularly prior to an intervention in which participants made implementation intentions concerning when, how, how much, and from what source of income they will deposit money into their savings accounts in the next month. The study suggests the following testable hypotheses: Participants who form implementation intentions concerning when, how, how much, and from what source of income they will deposit money into their America Saves account will be more likely to deposit money into their America Saves account than participants who do not form such intentions. Participants who form implementation intentions will save in a manner consistent with their intentions.

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