Goal setting as an act of intentionality of the motivational field of the act of volunteering

Abstract

This study is dedicated to substantiating the psychological significance of goal setting as an act of intentionality in the process of actualization of the motivational field (component) of the volunteer deed. The detailed analysis revealed key regularities of this developmental course. Firstly, it is shown that goal setting, understood as a conscious act of intentionality, is a fundamental condition for the formation of the motivational structure of the volunteer deed, closely linked to the individual’s value-sense sphere, existential self-determination, and the selection of meaningful social goals. Secondly, the interrelation of initial intention, motive, specific intent, and goal is detailed as dynamic components that structure motivation from the initial internal impulse to the conscious image of the desired outcome and action plan for the deed. It is emphasized that values, particularly prosocial and moral ones, serve as funda­mental determinants of intentionality and motivation for the volunteer’s activity. Thirdly, the thesis is substantiated that effective goal setting requires the integration of cognitive, emotional, and volitional components, supported by self-efficacy, which enables the volunteer to overcome everyday difficulties. It is concluded that goal setting as an act of intentionality of the volunteer’s conscious «Dasein» is not merely a regulator of the deed but also a powerful mechanism of meaning-making, imparting profound significance to socially useful and gratuitous activity and contributing to personal growth and the realization of covitally significant changes.