What is Discrepancy between current behavior and goal?
This technique involves making a person aware of the gap between what they are currently doing and what their goal requires. The discrepancy creates motivational tension that drives behavior toward the goal.
How it works
The technique is grounded in control theory (Carver & Scheier): people regulate behavior by comparing their current state to a reference standard (the goal) and acting to reduce the discrepancy. When the gap is invisible, there is no drive to change. Making the gap visible activates the self-regulatory system. The technique is most effective when the discrepancy is moderate: too small and there is no motivation to change; too large and the person may give up.
Applied example
A fitness tracker that shows a person they have walked 3,200 steps when their daily goal is 10,000 makes the discrepancy concrete. The visible gap creates a pull toward the goal that would not exist if the person had no awareness of their current step count.
Why it matters
Highlighting the discrepancy between current behavior and goals converts abstract intentions into felt tension, which is the basic engine of self-regulation and behavior change.
