A Hope of Success and Fear of Failure by Nina Mosley

The concept of hierarchical ideas of goal complexity suggests that goals can be determined based on interest and importance, or they can be based on external rewards and pressure. Considering ideas from Senko and Tropiano in 2016, one can assert the mindset of I ‘have to’ do something or I ‘get to do’ something. This concept further extends what it means to have autonomous complexity and controlled complexity. Dissecting these terms further, autonomous complexity is the mindset of ‘I want to.’ Decisions are made about personal interest and desire to work toward a goal. Controlled complexity is the ‘I have to’ mindset, where one is coerced into deciding or taking an action based on external factors. Individuals’ reasons for pursuing goals can influence their achievement goals and motivational experience toward these goals depending on the goal's complexity.

In Love Jones, we see Nina constantly deciphering the importance of autonomous goals related to her career and love as her achievement goals. Nina demonstrates both hope for success and fear of failure in the movie. Nina’s hope for success is seen in her photography career through her passion and ambition to take risks, such as moving to New York. This hopefulness can be seen as a performance approach goal, as she’s willing and actively interested in doing what it takes to succeed in her photography.

We can also see the fear of failure in Nina’s love life. As she navigates the ending of her relationship with her ex-fiancé, she hesitates to fully commit to a relationship with Darius. Her reservations of fear are related to rejection. Her perception of things potentially not working out drives mastery avoidance in her approach to love. She is fearful and avoids the appearance of another failed relationship. Nina would rather avoid these potential fears than approach the relationship as being successful.

In contrast to Nina’s personal beliefs of how she can make things happen in pursuit of her goals of career success and relationship fulfillment, Nina’s motivational experience also includes using her internal thoughts and feelings to fit with external factors in her life. In Nina’s move to New York, we see how external opportunities play a role in her decision-making, demonstrating secondary control beliefs about her career. Nina’s secondary control beliefs affect her career motivation and pursuit of a romantic relationship. She attempts to balance the two but navigates conflict throughout the film. This balancing act and struggle indicate how she sees these factors outside her control. Nina’s motivational experience shows tensions between internal and external expectations while navigating uncontrollable events, shaping her determination to approach or avoid goals.