Crisis Due to Uncertainty?

The Role of Information Processing Styles and Intolerance of Uncertainty in Progress and Crisis during Goal-Striving

Abstract

Past research has identified a number of stable characteristics affecting goal achievement. However, the role of inter-individual differences in the ways in which an individual reacts to (A) new information and (B) ambiguous situations during the pursuit of personal goals has been overlooked. In the present study (N = 245), we focused on the role of experiential and rational information processing styles (REI-40) and intolerance of uncertainty (IUS-12) in goal progress and crisis that can occur during goal-striving due to
the accumulation of setbacks, known as an action crisis. It was found that intolerance of uncertainty predicted an action crisis. Furthermore, rational ability predicted goal progress indirectly, via a subjective assessment of goal attainability. Autonomous motivation did not play a mediating role in the present study, though. These findings extend previous results, which have focused on the role of individual differences in action crisis and highlight the role of intolerance of uncertainty as a potential risk factor for the development of action crisis.