Spiritual Evidence Map
← Sources
ReviewprimarysupportsVerified

Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation

Edwin A. Locke, Gary P. Latham · 2002 · American Psychologist, 57(9), 705-717

Spiritual Evidence Map/Last updated May 10, 2026/Claims v1.0.0-provisional/Sources v1.0.0/Scores provisional
Citation dossier

This source is used as supports evidence across 1 linked claim and 3 related evidence hubs. Its citation record is marked verified; that verifies the source trail, not the truth of any linked claim.

Source type
Review
Map role
supports
Claim links
1
Direct access
Recorded

Summary

Review/theory paper summarizing evidence that specific, challenging goals improve performance through attention, effort, persistence, and strategy use.

How this source is used on the map

Supports the limited psychological version of manifestation: goals and expectancy can change behavior, not reality itself.

Citation record

Authors
Edwin A. Locke, Gary P. Latham
Year
2002
Publication
American Psychologist, 57(9), 705-717
Source type
Review
Map role
supports
Credibility level
primary
Citation status
Verified
DOI
10.1037/0003-066X.57.9.705
PubMed
Recorded
PDF
Not recorded
Original source →DOI →PubMed →

Linked claims

Evidence score 2/10
Manifestation works

Confidence and goal clarity have small real effects on action and outcomes. The cosmic claim is unsupported.

Related evidence hubs

Topic hub
Energy, Healing & Divination

Practice claims — prayer, reiki, chakras, astrology, tarot, manifestation.

Evidence pillar
Energy healing & subtle body

Reiki, chakras, auras, crystals, prayer healing.

Evidence pillar
Life purpose & meaning

Growth, suffering, synchronicity, calling.

Related research reports

Synthesis report
Evidence Against Common Spiritual Claims

A careful guide to spiritual claims that are popular but weakly supported, including astrology, reiki, auras, crystals, manifestation, numerology, and predictive tarot.

Related sources

Study · challenges
Pleasure now, pain later: Positive fantasies about the future predict symptoms of depression

Useful counterweight to manifestation claims: visualization can affect motivation, but fantasy by itself can reduce effort rather than magically produce outcomes.

Secondary summary · context
Law of attraction (New Thought)

Direct background for the 'manifestation' claim; covers both the practice and the criticisms.