Influence of Goal Orientation on Academic Self-Actualization of Prospective Teachers

Self-motivation is important for achieving success in work and personal life. A well accepted explanation of human behavior is that people have needs and motives propelling them toward achieving certain goals. The central idea behind need theory is that unsatisfied needs motivate us until they become satisfied. After satisfaction of one need, the person usually pursues satisfaction of another, higher need. The present study aimed to study the goal orientation and academic self-actualization of prospective teachers and the existing relationship between them. The Goal Orientation Questionnaire for Teachers developed by Button, Mathieu and Zajac, (1996) and Academic Self-Actualization Questionnaire developed by George Manning and Kent Curtis (2003) were used to collect data for the present study. The sample consists of 250 Prospective Teachers. On the whole, the findings of the present study revealed that there was significant and positive relationship between goal orientation and academic self-actualization of prospective teachers.