An implementation-intention is a self-regulatory strategy in which a person formulates a specific if-then plan linking a situational cue to a goal-directed response (e.g., 'If situation X arises, then I will perform response Y'). It works by mentally simulating the cue-response pairing so that the cue automatically triggers the intended behavior, bypassing deliberative decision-making in the moment. Its parameters are: a specified cue, a specified response, and a mental representation formed through repeated simulation of their connection. It persists as a stored behavioral program that activates upon cue detection.
[formal: implementare intentionem | substrate: behavior | horizon: a life | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
implementation-intention
An implementation-intention is a self-regulatory strategy in which a person formulates a specific if-then plan linking a situational cue to a goal-directed response (e.g., 'If situation X arises, then I will perform response Y'). It works…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A human-made self-regulatory strategy that links a desired goal-directed response with a specific situational cue, typically formulated as an if-then plan (e.g., 'if situation X arises, then I will perform response Y'). Persists through psychological practice, clinical interventions, and behavioral coaching programs.
Names and aliases
- implementation-intentionen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmrxzhvsd04jisoache9or7mkINSTANCE_OF →
Implementation-intention is a specific kind of self-regulation: it is a structured if-then plan linking situational cues to goal-directed responses (Gollwitzer, 1999). A competent speaker would classify it as a self-regulation strategy. Nearest kind is self-regulation, not a broader category.
- cmrpuyj0c085bd1nlufwffs7nDEPENDS_ON →
Implementation-intentions are 'if-then' plans that require a cue to trigger: remove the cue mechanism and the if-then plan never fires. The cue is the operating trigger, not merely associated. Present-tense dependency per Law 8.
- cmrv5v9ag002y2cei2473bhdyINSTANCE_OF →
An implementation intention is a specific kind of planning — an if-then plan that specifies when, where, and how to act. Per Law 9: a competent speaker would say 'implementation intention is a kind of planning.' Direction: specific (implementation-intention) → general (planning). The edge-test confirms planning is older/more foundational.
- cmrf51qwi005rcqqtmpyziy84DEPENDS_ON →
Implementation-intentions are 'if-then' behavioral plans (e.g., 'if cue X appears, then do Y'). Remove memory and the plan cannot be stored, recalled at the cue, or triggered into action — the mechanism ceases to operate. This is not a meta-level dependency (Law 2b): memory is not needed merely to SAY implementation-intentions, it is needed for the if-then mechanism to FUNCTION as a behavioral intervention. Without memory, the plan is inert.
Relations to this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Record identity
- Created
- Jul 24, 2026, 5:31 PM UTC
- Content hash
- 8d1e1168a03f9cf69ef462dce708551fa9f0c9af4e1df19eebd1de0f8abdffa8