Approach and Avoidance Social Motives and Goals

Abstract

It was predicted that approach social motives and goals would be linked to outcomes characterized by the presence of positive social features, and avoidance social motives and goals would be linked to outcomes characterized by the presence of negative social features and that the link between approach motives and outcomes would be mediated by different processes than the link between avoidance motives and outcomes. These hypotheses were examined in three studies (two of them longitudinal) that measured participants' dispositional social motives, short-term social goals, and social outcomes (e.g., loneliness). Approach motives and goals were reliably associated with less loneliness and more satisfaction with social bonds, whereas avoidance motives and goals were reliably associated with more loneliness, negative social attitudes, and relationship insecurity. Results also suggested that these associations were mediated by different processes. Implications for the conceptualization of close relationships along these two dimensions are discussed.Across the lifespan, human beings are motivated to form and maintain strong and stable interpersonal relationships (for reviews see Baumeister &Leary, 1995, andReis, Collins, &Berscheid, 2000). Indeed, people routinely list successful interpersonal relationships among their most important life goals (e.g., Emmons, 1999) and as Study 1 was submitted in partial fulfillment of the doctoral requirements of the University of Rochester and was supported by an NRSA fellowship (# 11766) from the National Institutes of Health. I am grateful to Harry Reis and Andrew Elliot for serving on my dissertation committee and to Bernie Weiner, Anne Peplau, and Gian Gonzaga for reading earlier versions of this manuscript.Address correspondence to Shelly L. Gable, UCLA Psychology Department, 4560 Franz Hall, Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563; E-mail: gable@psych.ucla.edu. what gives their life meaning (Klinger, 1977). Moreover, many theories of psychological well-being assert that successfully fulfilling belongingness goals through healthy social ties with others are integral components of health and well-being (e.g., Deci & Ryan, 1985;Ryff, 1995), and empirical evidence supports this link. Those who do not place relatedness needs in their top tier of life goals have poorer outcomes (Kasser & Ryan, 1996), and poor social integration is a risk factor for mortality at a level paralleling the risk of smoking (House, Landis, & Umberson, 1988). Journal of PersonalityDespite the wealth of evidence that humans have a basic motivation to belong, little work has investigated the motivational processes involved in establishing and keeping social bonds. These processes are to a great extent determined by the focus of social motives and goals. Social motives and goals can be focused on a rewarding, desired end-state (approach); or social motives and goals can be focused on a punishing, undesired end-state (avoidance). In this article, the processes and outcomes associated with approach and avo...

Looking back to move forward: Nostalgia as a psychological resource for promoting relationship goals and overcoming relationship challenges.

“…This finding is consistent with previous research indicating that nostalgia regulates avoidance motivation and brings on line approach motivation (Stephan et al, 2104) and with the hierarchical model of approach-avoidance of social motivation (Gable, 2006;Gable & Impett, 2012).…”

“…Taken together, nostalgia brings on line approach motivation (Stephan et al, 2014) and approach motivation predicts the adoption of social approach goals like meeting new friends and deepening relationships (Gable, 2006;Gable & Impett, 2012;Elliot, Gable, & Mapes, 2006).…”

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“…In an influential paper, Elliot and Thrash (2002) linked domain-general, dispositional approach and avoidance temperaments, conceptualized as the behavioral activation system (BAS) and behavioral inhibition system (BIS; Gray, 1982), to approach and avoidance goals in the achievement domain (a similar result has been found for the affiliation motive; Gable, 2006). Although these authors only argued within the achievement domain, their line of reasoning suggests that a fundamental BIS sensitivity is a temperamental base for all avoidance motives.…”

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