Disengagement and initiative in self-regulation: The role of action control in spontaneous mental contrasting

Effective goal pursuit depends not only on setting goals but also on the cognitive strategies individuals use to regulate their actions. Among these strategies, spontaneous mental contrasting (SMC) is particularly important, as it links desired futures with current obstacles to strengthen goal commitment and follow-through. This study examined whether action versus state orientation, as conceptualized in action control theory, predicts the use of SMC for academic goals among international students in China. Across a correlational study (Study 1) and an experimental priming study (Study 2). In particular, the dimensions of action orientation, disengagement, and initiative emerged as significant predictors of SMC. These findings highlight the importance of disengagement and initiative in supporting spontaneous self-regulation through mental contrasting and suggest that individual differences in self-regulatory style play a critical role in academic goal pursuit.