Are backup plans a good or bad idea?

What is it about?

Are backup plans prudent safety nets, or can they be self-fulfilling prophecies that lead people to fail in their goals? In this article, we describe how having a backup plan changes the way a person pursues a goal, even if the backup plan is not currently (or even ever) used.

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Why is it important?

Our theoretical model may help people consider whether backup plans are helping or holding them back from achieving their important goals.