11/16/2014

Edwin A. Locke - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edwin A. Locke
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Professor Edwin A Locke (born January 5, 1938) is an American psychologist and a pioneer in goal-setting
theory. He is a retired Deans Professor of Motivation and Leadership at the Robert H. Smith School of
Business at the University of Maryland, College Park. He was also affiliated with the Department of Psychology.
The Association for Psychological Science has praised him, saying, "Locke is the most published organizational
psychologist in the history of the field. His pioneering research has advanced and enriched our understanding of
work motivation and job satisfaction. The theory that is synonymous with his name goal-setting theory is
perhaps the most widely-respected theory in industrial-organizational psychology. His 1976 chapter on job
satisfaction continues to be one of the most highly-cited pieces of work in the field."[1]
Locke is a proponent of global capitalism,[2] was personally acquainted with the philosopher Ayn Rand and is
affiliated with the Ayn Rand Institute. In recent years, he has become an outspoken opponent of the animal
rights movement, especially the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. In a winter 2010
interview with Imagineer Magazine, he stated, "I dont think PETA want all beings equal at all; I think they want
man to suffer and die."[3][4]

Contents
1 Academia
2 Theories
3 Awards
4 Attainments
5 References
6 External links

Academia
Locke received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Harvard in 1960. He received his MA in
Industrial Psychology and Experimental Psychology in 1962 and his PhD in Industrial Psychology in 1964. Both
degrees were from Cornell. Locke's doctoral dissertation was on the relationship of intentions to motivation and
affect. In 1964 Locke started working as an associate research scientist in the American Research Institutes. In
1966 he became a research scientist there, a position he maintained until 1970. Locke started his teaching
career in 1967, as an assistant professor of Psychology in the University of Maryland. In 1970 he became
associate professor of Business Administration in the University of Maryland. Between 1972 and 2001 he held
a number of posts in the University of Maryland: 1972-2001- Professor of Business and Management, and of
Psychology. 1984-1996- Chair, management and Organization Faculty. 1998-2001- Dean's Professor of
Leadership and Motivation. Since 2001 Locke has been acting as Professor Emeritus in the University of
Maryland. Throughout his career, Professor Locke has published over 260 chapters, books and articles.

Theories
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_A._Locke

1/3

11/16/2014

Edwin A. Locke - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Goal Setting Theory was developed by Edwin A. Locke in 1968, in order to explain human actions in
specific work situations. The theory argues that goals and intentions are cognitive and willful, and that they serve
as mediators of human actions and that our needs and our goals are mediated by our values, which determine
what is beneficial for us.
The two most important findings of this theory are that setting specific goals (e.g., I want to earn $500 more a
month) generates higher levels of performance than setting general goals (e.g., I want to earn more money), and
that goals that are hard to achieve are linearly and positively connected to performance. The harder the goal, the
more a person will work to reach it. However, such influences on performance are mediated by two conditions
feedback, and that the person in question accepts the goal.
A goal is described as reaching a great certain level of efficiency in a certain area, usually under a time limit.
Goals have two characteristicsthe goal's content, and the goal's intensity. The content refers to what we
actually want to achieve (e.g., I want to earn $500 more a month). The intensity refers to the amount of physical
and mental resources needed to create and achieve the content. The original model proposed by Locke
consisted of five steps: Environmental Stimuli Cognition Evaluation Intentions\ Goal Setting
Performance.

Awards
The Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award from the Academy of Management (Human Resources
Division) Outstanding Teacher-Scholar Award from the University of Maryland
James Mckeen Cattell Fellow Award, Association for Psychological Science

Attainments
Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychological Society, the Academy of
Management, the Society for Industrial & Organizational Psychology and the Society for Organizational
Behavior

References
1. ^ Association for Psychological Science. "2005 James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award"
(http://www.psychologicalscience.org/awards/cattell/citations/locke.cfm). Retrieved 2009-05-28.
2. ^ Locke, Edwin A. (April 24, 2003). "On May Day Delebrate Capitalism" (http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?
page=NewsArticle&id=7449). Retrieved 2009-05-28.
3. ^ http://www.imagineermagazine.com/index.php/issue_archives/autumn/edwin_a_locke Winter 2010 interview
with Imagineer Magazine
4. ^ McConnell, Scott, "Edwin A. Locke," 100 Voices: an Oral History of Ayn Rand, 2010, New American
Library, pp. 351-352.

External links
Professor Locke's home page (http://www.edwinlocke.com/)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Edwin_A._Locke&oldid=628104374"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_A._Locke

2/3