Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-l4dxg Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-03T01:15:05.777Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The unboxing has already begun: One motivation construct at a time

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2025

Ruud Custers Open the ORCID record for Ruud Custers [Opens in a new window] ,
Baruch Eitam Open the ORCID record for Baruch Eitam [Opens in a new window]  and
E. Tory Higgins
Ruud Custers*
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands [email protected]; www.goallab.nl
Baruch Eitam
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel [email protected]
E. Tory Higgins
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA [email protected]
*
*Corresponding author.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Murayama and Jach argue that it is not clearly specified how motivation constructs produce behavior and that this black box should be unpacked. We argue that the authors overlook important classic theory and highlight recent research programs that already started unboxing. We feel that without relying on the mechanisms that such programs uncover, the proposed computational approach will be fruitless.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 48 , 2025 , e29
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bakbani-Elkayam, S., Dolev-Amit, T., Hemed, E., Zilcha-Mano, S., & Eitam, B. (2024). Intact modulation of response vigor in major depressive disorder. Motivation and Emotion, 48(2), 209–221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-024-10059-0CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berridge, K. C., & Robinson, T. E. (1998). What is the role of dopamine in reward: Hedonic impact, reward learning, or incentive salience? Brain Research Reviews, 28(3), 309–369. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-0173(98)00019-8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bindra, D. (1974). A motivational view of learning, performance, and behavior modification. Psychological Review, 81(3), 199–213. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0036330CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bolles, R. C. (1972). Reinforcement, expectancy, and learning. Psychological Review, 79(5), 394–409. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0033120CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Custers, R., & Aarts, H. (2005). Positive affect as implicit motivator: On the nonconscious operation of behavioral goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 89(2), 129–142. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.89.2.129CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Custers, R., & Aarts, H. (2010). The unconscious will: How the pursuit of goals operates outside of conscious awareness. Science, 329(5987), 47–50. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1188595CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Eitam, B., & Higgins, E. T. (2014). What's in a goal? The role of motivational relevance in cognition and action. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 37(2), 141–142. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X13002008CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eitam, B., Kennedy, P. M., & Higgins, E. T. (2013). Motivation from control. Experimental Brain Research, 229, 475–484. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-012-3370-7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Förster, J., Higgins, E. T., & Bianco, A. T. (2003). Speed/accuracy decisions in task performance: Built-in trade-off or separate strategic concerns? Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 90(1), 148–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-5978(02)00509-5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hemed, E., Bakbani-Elkayam, S., Teodorescu, A. R., Yona, L., & Eitam, B. (2020). Evaluation of an action's effectiveness by the motor system in a dynamic environment. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 149(5), 935–948. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000692CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Higgins, E. T., & Cornwell, J. F. M. (2016). Securing foundations and advancing frontiers: Prevention and promotion effects on judgment & decision making. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 136, 56–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2016.04.005CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Manian, N., Papadakis, A. A., Strauman, T. J., & Essex, M. J. (2006). The development of children's ideal and ought self-guides: Parenting, temperament, and individual differences in guide strength. Journal of Personality, 74(6), 1619–1646. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2006.00422.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Toates, F. (1986). Motivational systems. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar