Should We Approach Approach and Avoid Avoidance? An Inquiry from Different Levels

Scholer, Abigail A.; Cornwell, James F. M.; Higgins, E. Tory

doi:10.1080/1047840x.2019.1643667

Cited by 37 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 110 publications

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“…The avoidance-motivated behavior is organized as a more complex organism-environment interaction, than the achievement-motivated behavior. Consequently, at the expense of "cognitive effort" the avoidance domain may prevail upon the long-term exercise of prior experience, which might be an advantage of the avoidance motivation on the strategic level (Scholer et al, 2019). We also assume the the approach domain provides superior transfer within shorter time window due to easier modification of prior experience.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Greater learning transfer effect for avoidance of loss than for achievement of gain in Finnish and Russian schoolchildren

Созинов

Laukka

Lyashchenko

et al. 2020

Heliyon

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Classification of behavior into principal categories of approach and avoidance is grounded in evolutionary considerations and multiple results of behavioral, self-report, and brain-activity analyses. Contrasted via measures of cognitive processes, avoidance is accompanied by greater cognitive engagement than approach. Considering outcome as a key constituent of behavioral underpinnings, we interpret approach/avoidance distinction in terms of structure of experience: avoidance domain provides more detailed interaction with the environment, than approach domain. Learning outwardly similar behaviors aimed at gain or loss outcomes manifests formation of different structures that underlie further learning. Therefore, we predicted difference of learning transfer between gain and loss contexts that was revealed here by introducing two tasks for different groups of schoolchildren in Finland and Russia. The cultural specificity of gain/loss differences was also evident with employed measures, including error rate and post-error slowing. The results support that avoidance-motivated behavior is organized as a more complex organism-environment interaction, than the approach-motivated behavior.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, we assume that coping with the same task for different outcomes is based on learning processes that have different utility. The approach and avoidance conditions have been shown to differ in speed and accuracy during learning (Luking et al, 2016; see also Scholer et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Greater learning transfer effect for avoidance of loss than for achievement of gain in Finnish and Russian schoolchildren

Созинов

Laukka

Lyashchenko

et al. 2020

Heliyon

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“…The current study is basic research that examined predictors of well-being in the American holiday of Thanksgiving in 2020. To do so, it extended research on well-being in major holidays as well as two major theories pertaining to well-being, self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000;Ryan & Deci, 2017) and regulatory focus theory (Higgins, 1997;Scholer et al, 2019aScholer et al, , 2019b.…”

Section: Feeling Socially Connected and Focusing On Growth: Relationships With Well-being During Thanksgiving Holiday In The Covid-19 Panmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These orientations are independent of each other (e.g., Haws et al, 2010;Higgins et al, 2001) and the strength of each orientation differs temporarily, depending on the immediate circumstances, as well as chronically between individuals (e.g., Higgins et al, 2001). According to regulatory focus theory, prevention focus serves the need for security, whereas promotion focus serves the need for growth (for reviews, see Higgins, 1997, 1998, Molden et al, 2007Scholer et al, 2019aScholer et al, , 2019b. Individuals in a promotion focus seek to approach successes and avoid failures, which they view as gains and nongains, and to be eager to fulfill hopes and aspirations.…”

Section: Regulatory Focus and Well-being On Thanksgivingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeling socially connected and focusing on growth: Relationships with well-being during a major holiday in the COVID-19 pandemic

Vaughn¹,

Burkins²,

Chalachan³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Numerous major holidays celebrate socially gathering in person. However, in major holidays that happened during the pandemic, desires to nurture relationships and maintain holiday traditions often conflicted with physical distancing and other measures to protect against COVID-19. The current research sought to understand well-being during American Thanksgiving in 2020, which happened eight months into the COVID-19 pandemic, after months of physical distancing and stay-at-home orders. American Thanksgiving is a major holiday not limited to any religion. We asked 404 American adults how they spent Thanksgiving Day and to report on their experiences of that day. Predictors of well-being that we drew from self-determination theory were satisfaction of the fundamental needs for social connection (relatedness), for doing what one really wants (autonomy), and for feeling effective (competence). The predictors of well-being that we drew from regulatory focus theory were a focus on growth (promotion), and a focus on security (prevention). We found that feeling socially connected and focusing on growth related most strongly to well-being. Additionally, participants who saw even one other person face-to-face reported significantly higher relatedness satisfaction, promotion focus, and well-being than those who did not. Our research could help construct persuasive messages that encourage nurturing close relationships at major holidays while remaining safe against the virus.

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“…In performance settings, avoidance motivation and avoidance goals are less effective than approach motivation and approach goals (e.g., Elliot and Church, 1997 ; Elliot, 2006 ). However, the avoidance strategies that fit prevention-focused goals are at a lower level of the goal-pursuit hierarchy than goals are, and they are not the same as prevention-focused goals ( Scholer and Higgins, 2008 , 2013 ; Scholer et al, 2019b ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Need Support and Regulatory Focus in Responding to COVID-19

2020

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Prevention focus is a self-regulatory orientation that serves the need for security, and promotion focus is a self-regulatory orientation that serves the need for growth. From mid-March to early April 2020, did people judge prevention focus to be more useful than promotion focus for responding to COVID-19? Our study tested and showed support for this hypothesis with 401 American and Canadian participants, who we sampled in 100-person waves on the first 4 Thursdays of the pandemic. For this study, we developed a new measure of the judged usefulness of promotion and prevention focus. Additionally, results showed that the judged usefulness of promotion and prevention focus related positively to support of the psychological needs for autonomy and relatedness, respectively, in responding to COVID-19. Exploratory analyses showed that day-today differences in autonomy, competence, and relatedness support and in promotion and prevention focus tended to be small, which is notable given the largescale changes to social distancing, employment, and media coverage of the virus during this time. Our research could be useful for crafting persuasive advocacy and narrative communications that encourage social distancing to protect others about whom people care most.

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Should We Approach Approach and Avoid Avoidance? An Inquiry from Different Levels

Cited by 37 publications

References 110 publications

Greater learning transfer effect for avoidance of loss than for achievement of gain in Finnish and Russian schoolchildren

Greater learning transfer effect for avoidance of loss than for achievement of gain in Finnish and Russian schoolchildren

Feeling socially connected and focusing on growth: Relationships with well-being during a major holiday in the COVID-19 pandemic

Need Support and Regulatory Focus in Responding to COVID-19

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