Motivation

Abstract

Motivation underlies much perception, cognition, and behavior. As such, it is studied from many levels of analysis within psychology and neuroscience. In this chapter, we review research and theory on the psychology of motivation from the perspective of social emotive neuroscience, which is an integrative approach involving social/personality psychology, psychophysiology, affective neuroscience, and the study of emotions and motivation within humans. More specifically, this chapter reviews theory and research on two major dimensions of motivation: motivational intensity and motivational direction (approach/withdrawal). In particular, theory and research are reviewed that demonstrate how motivational intensity and direction are related to psychophysiological and cognitive responses. The reviewed research also considers individual differences and bodily expressions/postures. Moreover, theory and research are reviewed that suggest that cognitive dissonance processes may be aimed at resolving motivational conflicts. This review illustrates the benefits of the integrative approach of social emotive neuroscience.

Embodiment of approach-avoidance behavior: Motivational priming of whole-body movements in a virtual world.

“…The important implication is that the body, and how the body was used in previous interactions, plays a crucial role for the instigation of approach/avoidance tendencies. Although others before us have highlighted the embodiment of approach/avoidance states (e.g., Harmon-Jones, Price, & Harmon-Jones, 2014), conclusive evidence for a grounding in whole-body movement was missing, due to the fact that locomotive behavior is typically confounded with particular visual changes. In fact, Rougier and colleagues (2018) showed that visual cues of whole-body locomotion can trigger approach-avoidance tendencies even if the participant was stationary.…”