Most of us strive to feel good; this doesn’t necessarily mean we are continually striving after pleasure in a hedonistic sense; rather, our strivings toward feeling good can be described as striving toward feeling a positive affect. In science, and specifically the field of psychology, the term affect typically refers to the visible manifestation of …
Category: Research Reviews
The Factor of Time in Goal-Directed Behavior
This essay will start by expounding on the concluding topics from my last paper; however, I intend to take more of a thematic approach for this essay, providing a general treatment of aspects relating to goal-construction, valuation of goals, and the influence of time perspective on the perceived salience of future goals. Starting with this …
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Understanding the Function of Motivation in Addiction and Information Processing
Continuing with the themes from my previous essay discussing motivation and functional autonomy, I will start by expounding upon my claim that this principle is a factor in addiction. Next, my goal is to provide a selective overview of pertinent topics related to reinforcement learning and perception before concluding with neuroscience and psychiatry topics that …
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Exploring the Nature of Motivation
Motivation is fundamental to understanding why people act in their unique manner; moreover, motivation is closely linked to one’s personality as a whole. However, the depth and nuance of an individual’s motivational system are often overlooked or oversimplified due to the scientific bias toward viewing and understanding human motivation solely in general terms. Gordan Allport …
A Two Sided Truth 