Why People Do the Things They Do : Building on Julius Kuhl’s Contribution to Motivation and Volition Psychology.

A unique and comprehensive book by leading researchers looking at motivation and volition. How can we motivate students, patients, employees, and athletes? What helps us achieve our goals, improve our well-being, and grow as human beings? These issues, which relate to motivation and volition, are familiar to everyone who faces the challenges of everyday life. This comprehensive book by leading international scholars provides integrative perspectives on motivation and volition that build on the work of German psychologist Julius Kuhl. The first part of the book examines the historical trail of the European and American research traditions of motivation and volition and their integration in Kuhl's theory of personality systems interactions (PSI). The second part of the book considers what moves people to action – how needs, goals, and motives lead people to choose a course of action (motivation). The third part of the book explores how people, once they have committed themselves to a course of action, convert their goals and intentions into action (volition). The fourth part shows what an important role personality plays in our motivation and actions. Finally, the fifth part of the book discusses how integrative theories of motivation and volition may be applied in coaching, training, psychotherapy, and education. This book is essential reading for everyone who is interested in the science of motivating people. Intro Why People Do the Things They Do Contents Preface The How and Why of Human Action Part I. Historical Perspectives Part II. Motivation: What Moves People to Action? Part III. Volition: How Do People Regulate Their Action? Part IV. Self and Personality: Are People's Actions Integrated Into the Self? Part V. Applications References Part I Historical Perspectives Chapter 1 The Romantic Science of Julius Kuhl The Early Years (1967-1985): Mastering the Traditions The Middle Years (1986-2000): Creating New Paradigms The Later Years (2000-Present): PSI Theory Epilogue AcknowledgmentsReferences Chapter 2 The Integration of Motivation and Volition in Personality Systems Interactions (PSI) Theory From Motivation to Volition Kuhl's Theory of Action Control Personality Systems Interactions (PSI) Theory Dynamics of Personality Systems Interactions Personality Systems Modulation Assumptions Two Illustrations of the Integrative Potential of PSI Theory PSI Theory and the Rubicon Model PSI Theory and Emotion Regulation Conclusions and Outlook References Part II Motivation: What Moves People to Action? Chapter 3 The Goal Theory of Current Concerns and Its Applications at Year 45Origins of the Theory Terminological Considerations Broad Outlines of the Theory in an Evolutionary Framework Current Concerns About Goals Adaptive Benefits of the System Centrality of Goals and the Sense That One's Life Is Meaningful Disengagement From Goals: The Incentive-Disengagement Cycle Summary Principles of Current Concerns Theory Assessment Methods for Current Concerns, Goals, and Motivational Structure An Idiothetic Family of Motivation Measures Adaptive Motivational Structure Current Concerns and the Flow of Waking and Sleeping Thoughts and ImagesMethods for Assessing Mental Content Effects of Current Concerns on Waking and Sleeping Thoughts, Attention, and Retention Effects of Current Concerns on Contents of Dreams Effects of Current Concerns on Attention: Variations on the Stroop Technique Associations of Emotion with Goal-Related Stimuli Useful Applications of the Current Concerns Theory Systematic Motivational Counseling and the Life Enhancement and Advancement Programme Attention Control Training Programs Other Applications Within the Current Concerns FrameworkA Final Note Acknowledgments References Chapter 4 Motivation and Lifespan Development General Principles of Motivated Action Development of Motivation and Action-Regulation Early Control Striving: How Parents Scaffold the Emergence of Motivated Action Anticipated Self-Reinforcement: Added Incentive and Risk Cognitive Development Promotes Advances in Motivated Action Lifespan Development of Individual Differences The Role of Motivation and Individual Agency in Lifespan Development Motivational Theory of Lifespan Development "How can we motivate students, patients, employees, and athletes? What helps us to achieve our goals, improve our well-being, and grow as human beings? Motivation and volition are issues that everyone grapples with in facing the challenges of everyday life: This unique and comprehensive book by leading international researchers takes a genuinely integrative view on motivation and volition from the perspective of personality systems interactions (PSI) theory of Kuhl. After examining the historical trail of the European and American research traditions of motivation and volition and their integration in Kuhl's theory of PSI in the first part of the book, the second part looks in detail at what moves people to action--how needs, goals and motives lead people to choose a course of action (motivation). The third part then explores how people, once they have committed themselves to a course of action, convert their goals and intentions into action (volition). The fourth part of the book shows what an important role personality plays in our motivation and actions. Finally, in keeping with Kurt Lewin's idea that "there is nothing more practical than a good theory," the rich insights of practically applying the integrative theory of motivation and volition are discussed from the perspectives of coaching, training, psychotherapy and education."-- Provided by publisher