Implementation Intentions

Abstract

An implementation intention is a self-regulatory strategy often used in prospective memory research to boost performance by creating a strong association between a to-be-encountered environmental stimulus (e.g., the door to exit one’s home) and an intended action (e.g., checking to be sure one has the keys). In this chapter, we examine the evidence for the purported automaticity of implementation intentions as well we discuss the extent to which encoding an implementation intention varies (e.g., they can be encoded verbally, through writing, and explicit use of imagery). This chapter concludes with an examination of the underlying mechanism of implementation intentions, and we describe a recent theory that employs a simulation-based account to explain the effectiveness of implementation intentions.