Unpacking the negative side-effects of directed motivational currents in L2: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Abstract

Directed motivational currents (DMCs) are portrayed as highly intense and prolonged periods of motivation oriented to a much-desired goal of personal significance. While we have seen a recent growth in studies examining aspects of DMCs, evidence on the negative side-effects of DMCs remains inadequate to date. In response to repeated calls for research into this area, we conducted a qualitative study to scrutinize the negative side-effects of DMCs as experienced by 5 trainee teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) in Turkey. The database comprised in-depth, semi-structured interviews carried out twice per participant. Interview transcripts were analysed in line with the principles of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The findings suggest that the negative side-effects of DMCs manifest themselves as showing signs of a sense of inadequacy, mental distress, and feelings of sorrow. These side-effects caused temporal setbacks in sustaining goal-directed behaviors, and they resulted from varied sources such as excessive dedication towards goal achievement, occasional deviations from behavioral routines, lack of affirmative feedback on progress made, and engagement with ill-conceived subgoals. Overall, the results offer a more detailed picture of the affective properties of DMCs and add depth to the current conception of this motivational phenomenon. The results also shed some light on the potential risks of deliberately inducing DMCs in language learners for pedagogical purposes.

Negative affect in sustained flow: An investigation into adverse consequences of prolonged engagement

“…This, in turn, may have a bearing on whether individuals would seek to pursue similar goals in the future. Similar conclusions were reached in the recent study by Sak and Gurbuz (2022).…”

“…A closer analysis of SF studies to date seems to corroborate this view, as some SF accounts described in the relevant literature indeed did not involve conjuring up mental images of future achievement (Henry et al 2015;Ibrahim 2020). Although there may be no solid basis for considering vision as the major driving force behind all SF experiences, adding the visionary quality to a personally relevant goal may contribute to inducing prospective SFs and maintaining the motivational qualities of the phenomenon (Sak & Gurbuz 2022).…”

“…More severe instances of negative affect can be found in the study conducted by Muir (2020), who reported that some of those affected by the phenomenon were strongly unwilling to undergo a similar experience in the future due to the presence of subversive consequences such as stress, anxiety, and even depression. Furthermore, in the only study to date with a focus on the negative side effects of SF experiences, Sak and Gurbuz (2022) found that while experiencing the phenomenon, individuals are prone to feelings of inadequacy, mental distress, and sorrow. Considering the studies to date have focused primarily on positive affective patterns within SF (Ibrahim 2016(Ibrahim , 2020, the following research questions were set out for the present investigation: RQ1: Is positive emotionality indeed the only type of affect experienced by those undergoing the SF phenomenon?…”

“…Although SF experiences are primarily portrayed in a positive light, the analysis of the literature revealed that being caught up in the flow may also provoke adverse consequences (Ibrahim 2016;Muir 2020;Sak & Gurbuz 2022). Considering moderate negative affect may favour accomplishment by encouraging individuals to intensify their efforts (Strack & Esteves 2014), the decision was made to put the focus on episodes of significant severity.…”

From Oblivion to Life: The Recovery of Intangible Cultural Heritage through the Anti-Aircraft Shelters of the Spanish Civil War

“…The IPA focuses on exploring how individuals interpret and understand their significant experiences [29,30,36], making it particularly useful for examining how individuals perceive and comprehend events and phenomena, thus allowing for a deep understanding of their subjective experiences [37][38][39].…”