Action Orientation Research Articles

Longitudinal effect of action orientation on willpower is mediated by sense-making

Introduction: Action-orientation is a key disposition shaping a person's capacity to self-regulate (Kuhl, 1996). It is associated with greater capacity to convert intentions into action and execute one's plans to completion, while its opposite, state-orientation, has been linked to greater vulnerability to interference from competing intentions and negative experience (Diefendorff et al., 2000). Action/state orientation is a stable disposition with consistently reliable self-report estimates in several languages and very little age-dependent dynamics (Diefendorff et al., 2000). It is an important predictor and likely causal antecedent of the individual self-control capacity or willpower (Koss & Mischel, 2010) as it reflects the person's motivated bias towards goal-directed action as a preferred pathway to satisfying their needs and achieving their goals (Kuhl, 1996). This bias influences the amount of energy individuals invest into deliberate planning and execution of their plans. How successful that execution is, depends on a separate set of “capacity” factors that modulate its effectiveness, including the levels of ability, fitness and skill. The latter includes mastery of tools–both external (e.g., a weapon) and internal (e.g., mnemonics). A well-developed capacity for meaning generation and manipulation affords a distinct advantage at all stages of action execution. Our earlier study provided initial evidence of this sense-making capacity mediating the relationship between action-state orientation and self-control traits representing dispositional effectiveness of goal-striving. The current study examined whether this mediation effect can be replicated longitudinally.

Connections teachers make between creativity and arts learning

ABSTRACTBackground: Creativity is often cited as one of the capacities that needs to be actively encouraged in all aspects of schooling. However, what creativity is and how it may be promoted through formal teaching and learning approaches remain contested. There are also differences between educators in terms of how they understand, discuss and conceptualise this complex concept.Purpose: This paper focuses on the difficulties associated with talking about creativity in education. It considers the ways in which schoolteachers who are involved in the area of arts education understand, describe and discuss the concept of creativity and how it interacts with their classroom practice.Sample: Twenty-three educators who taught Arts (either as generalist primary classroom teachers or as specialist teachers), and the leadership team from a Kindergarten to Year 9 (pupil ages 5–15) school in the suburbs of a city in the Australian state of Victoria participated in the project.Design and methods: In this phenomenological study, data were gathered from participants through questionnaires, discussion groups, email prompts and reflective journals. The material was analysed qualitatively.Findings: By examining the teachers’ dialogic and discursive responses about creativity, it was possible to capture some broad ways in which the participants spoke about creativity. Data were analysed thematically and grouped into categories that represented the connected ‘creative orientations’: thinking orientations, action orientations, emotion orientations and skill/outcome orientations.Conclusion: There is a need for educators in and across a range of discipline areas to share, map and think about creativity. The approach adopted in this exploratory study offers a way that could be used to focus discussions and help facilitate educators’ talk about creativity.

WEBER’S HISTORICISM AS A WAY INTO PHENOMENOLOGY

This article is an attempt to give an account of the problem of historicity in Weber, pointing at the origins of his understanding of identity and identity formation in modern philosophy, more specifically in Hobbes. It is our hypothesis that Weber’s account of history is deeply indebted to Hobbes own account of the emergence of normative, meaning-like, action orientation only within the political. Weber’s account of identity and society remains a paradigmatic necessity and shapes our understanding of how individuals get to have preferences and form a sense of self in modern societies. However, for all its paradigmatic importance, Weber’s account of the formation of self and identity has a blind spot in the notion of representation. It is our understanding that the centrality of the notion of representation for Weber’s understanding of social action and selfhood leaves him in a nominalistic position. Thus, though knowledge is produced locally, social life aims at and is limited by the production of knowledge. This leaves Weber unable to deal with the problem of disorder in social life without resorting to an interpretation of disorder as irrationality, which, we hold, is no longer acceptable.

The Manifestation of Will: The Vectorial Force of Accepting Guilt

Individual conduct involves the orientation of actions in a certain way by making a decision. The attempt to establish the unique and appropriate purpose of the action is based on the intention to achieve that goal, followed by the elaboration of the mental plan for the realization of the action. In the deliberation, certain processes are underway to investigate the conditions for carrying out the criminal activity, assessing its effects in the objective reality. Following the analysis of the meanings, the reasons and the purpose pursued, the mental plan for the concrete realization of the criminal activity is finalized by making the decision to commit the crime. Finalizing the decision is followed by its execution to achieve the goal pursued, the aggressor using is hull psychophysical ability, knowledge, skills and ability in adopting a method of action. The manifestation of will is realized when the individual acts knowingly, even if the purpose of his actions coincides with the interests and needs of others. The guilt appears to be a force contrary to the manifestation of freedom of each individual, considered as the original behavioral form of any collectivity that opposes block of opposite behavior.

Action and representation - A comment on Batel and Castro 'Re-opening the dialogue between the theory of social representations and discursive psychology'.

Batel and Castro propose a reconciliation of social representation theory and discursive psychology. This comment highlights the continuing relevance of long‐standing critiques of social representation theory from discursive psychologists as well as their central focus on both how representations are built to appear factual and the role of representations in practices. It suggests that the analytic approaches proposed by Batel and Castro (e.g., focus groups and thematic analysis) are not sufficient to the analytic task. The proposed ‘Pragmatic Discourse Analysis’ falls short on its central task of identifying pragmatics. The virtues of working with naturalistic data using methods that attend to the action orientation of talk and text are pressed.

The Structural and Functional Signature of Action Control

Individuals differ in their ability to initiate self- and emotional-control mechanisms. These differences have been explicitly described in Kuhl’s action-control theory. Although interindividual differences in action control make a major contribution to our everyday life, their neural foundation remains unknown. Here, we measured action control in a sample of 264 healthy adults and related interindividual differences in action control to variations in brain structure and resting-state connectivity. Our results demonstrate a significant negative correlation between decision-related action orientation (AOD) and amygdala volume. Further, we showed that the functional resting-state connectivity between the amygdala and the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex was significantly associated with AOD. Specifically, stronger functional connectivity was associated with higher AOD scores. These findings are the first to show that interindividual differences in action control, namely AOD, are based on the anatomical architecture and functional network of the amygdala.

“I thought this is like magic”

This study applies an eclectic discourse analysis within a poststructuralist framework to data consisting of research interviews with 17 patients attending National Health Service (NHS) clinics for homeopathic treatment in the UK. This combined approach focuses on the fine-grain action orientation of language use while investigating notions of power, subjectivity and discourse.
 Homeopathic patients' spontaneous discursive resources demonstrate how broader available discourses of homeopathy are used to negotiate, legitimise and sustain their healthcare choices. In particular, patients orient to three discursive strategies: (1) describing the failures of medicine, to warrant the turn to seek homeopathy; (2) emphasising the extraordinary, curative properties of homeopathy; and (3) constructing homeopathy as an alternative with considerable health benefits. The study shows how these intersubjective constructions are mobilised as social action to perform convincing arguments and at the same time manage and attend to subjects' own individual personal credibility. Despite all their positive intentions, these strategies end up locating homeopathy in a culture of scepticism and marginalising it from mainstream acceptance.

Cross-Cultural Analysis of Volition: Action Orientation Is Associated With Less Anxious Motive Enactment and Greater Well-Being in Germany, New Zealand, and Bangladesh.

Background: People differ in action vs. state orientation, that is, in the capacity for volitional action control. Prior research has shown that people who are action-rather than state-oriented are better able to perceive and satisfy own motives (e.g., affiliation, achievement, power), which translates into greater psychological well-being (Baumann et al., 2005; Baumann and Quirin, 2006). However, most of the extant literature has been limited to samples from European countries or the US. To address this shortcoming, the present paper investigated the associations between action vs. state orientation, psychological well-being, and anxious style of motive enactment among samples in Germany, New Zealand, and Bangladesh (combined N = 862).Methods: To examine the consistency of our results across countries, a multi-group structural equation model (SEM) was used to examine the associations between action orientation, anxious motive enactment, and well-being. Subsequent mediation analyses assessed whether anxious motive enactment mediated the relationship between action orientation and well-being across each of the three samples.Results: Across all three cultural groups, action orientation was associated with less anxious motive enactment and higher well-being. Moreover, mediation analyses revealed significant indirect paths from action orientation through less anxious motive enactment to well-being that were similar across the three samples.Conclusions: These findings suggest that individual differences in action vs. state orientation have a similar psychological meaning across Western and non-Western cultures.

Get it Together! Synergistic Effects of Causal and Effectual Decision–Making Logics on Venture Performance

Entrepreneurs rely on different decision–making logics when starting new ventures, including causal and effectual reasoning. Extant research suggests that venture performance is positively associated with both causal business planning and effectual action–orientation, but studies have not yet tested the synergistic potential of these two logics. We contribute to the debate on entrepreneurial decision making by exploring the interrelationship between causation and effectuation, detailing their main and interactive effects on venture performance. Using survey data collected on 1,453 entrepreneurs residing in 25 countries, we find that ventures benefit from using these two entrepreneurial logics in tandem.

The role of the action context in object affordance.

Behavioral and neuroscience studies have shown that observation of objects automatically evokes potential actions to interact with those objects. In this study, the left and right hand key presses were facilitated when they corresponded with the task-irrelevant handle orientation of household objects, which is termed the affordance effect. The present study investigated how the affordance effect is affected by the action context when other agents are observed acting on a neutral or dangerous object. Participants were shown a series of pictures in which an actor grasped a neutral or dangerous object and moved it away from or toward the participant. The participants were required to press different keys to identify a symbol which was presented above the last picture. The results showed that affordance effect of a neutral object was modulated by the direction of object movement. When the neutral object moved away from the participant, an affordance effect was observed if the perceived action was congruent with handle orientation, whereas the affordance effect emerged if the perceived action was incongruent with handle orientation when the object was moved toward the participant. However, for the dangerous object, the affordance effect was obtained regardless of object movement direction or congruency between perceived action and handle orientation. This result suggests that the processing of objects involves a sophisticated integration of body behavior with the object.

The Changing Effectiveness of Local Civic Action: The Critical Nexus of Community and Organization

We examine changes in the effectiveness of local civic action in relation to changes over time in racial diversity and income inequality. Local civic action comprises situations in which community members come together—typically with support from local organizations—to address common issues. The collective orientation of local civic action makes it sensitive to changes in local social conditions. As these changes unfold, local organizations become differentially able to support civic action. Here, our core argument features the process through which community members associate with different local organizations and how mandated versus voluntary association results in distinct responses to increased social and economic heterogeneity. We test this argument using three decades of data describing local campaigns of the annual Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program. A baseline model shows that within-county increases in racial diversity and income inequality are associated with diminished campaign effectiveness. Subsequent models that separate out campaigns organized by schools, churches, and clubs show that schools are relatively more effective mobilizers as racial diversity and income inequality increase, arguably due to the greater demographic matching that is induced by mandated school participation.

Use of customer satisfaction measurements to drive improvements

Trends like servitisation and globalisation have increased the importance of intangible assets, and, accordingly, a need for non-financial performance measurements, the most frequently used being ‘customer satisfaction’. A key argument is that high levels of customer satisfaction have a positive effect on organisations financial performance. Still, many organisations fail to use these measurements as drivers for quality improvements. How customer satisfaction measurements are used in organisations varies between knowledge-enhancing, action-oriented, and symbolic. This paper studies how customer satisfaction information usage processes differ between organisations utilising the measurements in an action-oriented manner to support improvements, and organisations using them in a knowledge-enhancing or symbolic manner. Based on empirical data from 24 service organisations, the paper concludes that all organisations would benefit from more activities related to the strategy phase of customer satisfaction information usage, that is, activities that outline for what purpose and how these measurements are to be used. Moreover, to use customer satisfaction measurements to drive improvements requires a combination of strategic, long-term thinking, and concrete operationalisation of the measurements; merely working in a knowledge-enhancing manner with a lack of action orientation might end up only a symbolic use of customer satisfaction measurements.

Public health social media communications and consumer neuroscience

Consumer neuroscience is an emerging discipline. Potential exists for neurological quantitative research techniques to be used for the development and analysis of public health messages due to limited numbers of successful campaigns. In some instances, highly successful public health marketing campaigns have been designed to address something greater than financial gain and have achieved exceptional reach. This results in increased public awareness using social amplification platforms. Examples of these include action-oriented social media campaigns that ask individuals to “act”, “share”, “pledge” or “challenge” on behalf of a health or social cause. Neurological and physiological techniques include functional magnetic resonance imaging, magnetoencephalography, electroencephalography, eye tracking, galvanic skin response, heart rate, facial recognition and implicit association testing. Due to nonconscious decision-making processes these techniques have the potential to identify driving forces behind individuals’ decision to become involved in health and social cause marketing campaigns that are unable to be identified with qualitative research methods. In 2014/2015 the Australian Government spent $23.3 million Australian dollars (AUD) on health and social service marketing campaigns, with $19.4 million AUD on health communications, and $3.9 million AUD on social services. These figures are considered conservative as expenditure on marketing campaigns below $250 thousand AUD is excluded. Thus, using consumer neuroscience to inform the design of future public health and social cause communications, which may help to save a life, while reducing expenditure on unsuccessful campaigns, requires greater understanding of the effectiveness of a positive action orientation vs. a fear and shock approach.

Orientation patterns of sports and physical activity among young people in Switzerland

In recent years, adolescent sports and physical activity have become a multifaceted culture. Different patterns of sports and physical activities are assumed to be based on different subjective action orientations. This paper aims to examine the variations in sports and physical activity among youths and young adolescents based on the sports models proposed by Heinemann (2007) and the attributed action orientations based on Weber (2002). In a qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight Swiss participants aged from 16 to 24 years to explore their sports and physical activities as well as their subjective attributed action orientations. The interviews were analyzed using the documentary method. The results of the present study demonstrate that ‘real types’ of sports models can be identified empirically in substantial accordance with the ‘ideal types’ of sports models proposed by Heinemann (2007). Four overarching types of orientation patterns emerged: (1) a value-rational orientation pattern with high importance of performance and competition; (2) a value-rational orientation pattern with high importance of autonomy and flexibility; (3) a purpose-rational orientation to achieve ideals of body, beauty, and slenderness; and (4) a purpose-rational orientation to achieve well-being.

Cornerstones of talent management as a strategic priority in the hospitality

PurposeThis paper aims to introduce the theme issue and the rationale for the theme issue question: Is talent management a strategic priority in the hospitality sector?Design/methodology/approachThis paper re-visits the conclusions of an earlier theme issue on aspects of talent management and reflects on their contemporary relevance with reference to the emerging concept of strategic talent management (STM).FindingsThis paper identifies the cornerstones of STM: concern for employee well-being; developing positive relationships and positive work attitudes; being authentic and building trust and sincerity; and providing organisational support.Originality/valueThis paper outlines the focus of theme issue and the approach taken that incorporates conceptual papers together with academic and practitioner viewpoints, perspectives, consultation and roundtable discussion. This paper observes that the issue reflects the views of multi-level line managers across a number of functions, including senior leaders, middle managers, supervisors, managers and marketing managers of human resources and that the papers all have a strong action orientation as a platform for learning, conversation and debate.

System of modality on the text of Indonesian presidential candidates debate on the period of 2014 – 2019

The text modality system is a set of views, judgments, and opinions of a tenor on the linguistic phenomena. The tenor’s view of discourse lies in a core position called the modal arena and is reconciled with two polar namely positive and negative polar. There are three linguistic phenomena underlying the study of the modalities of the text of the presidential candidate debate, i.e empirical, practical, and theoretical phenomena. The objective of the study was to describe the text modality system of Indonesian presidential candidate debate on the period of 2014-2015. The theory used in this research namely the theory of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). The research approach is a qualitative descriptive approach with the linguistic phenomenological paradigm. The types of data include words, phrases, clauses, a group of phrases, and text units. The data comes from the TDC audio recordings of stage I and II. The research instrument used text validation tables and contexts. Furthermore, the data collection stage used the method of documentation and observation along with some advanced techniques. Stage of data processing was done through classification, segmentation, and data codification. The analysis stage includes several stages, namely reduction, presentation, and verification. The results show that the PS has a tendency to use the probabilistic 'probable' modality, frequency 'usual', must 'mandatory' tendency to 'wish' with the subjective-implicit action orientation, while the JW tends to use the modulation of the probability type of 'certain', frequency 'always', must ‘required', tendency 'fixed' with an objective-explicit action orientation.

Особливості формування партійної системи сучасної України

The level of social harmony in society and the development of democracy depends to a large extent on the level of development of parties, their ideological and political orientation, methods and means of action. The purpose of the article is to study the party system of Ukraine and directions of its development, which is extremely complex and controversial. The methods. The research has led to the use of such scientific search methods as a system that allowed the party system of Ukraine to be considered as a holistic organism, and the historical and political method proved to be very effective in analyzing the historical preconditions and peculiarities of the formation of the party system. The results. The incompetent, colonial past and the associated cruel national oppression, terror, famine, and violent Russification caused the contradictory and dramatic nature of modernization, the actual absence of social groups and their leaders interested in it, and the relatively passive reaction of society to the challenges of history. Officials have been nominated by mafia clans, who were supposed to protect their interests and pursue their policies. Political struggle in the state took place not between influential political parties, but between territorial-regional clans. The party system of Ukraine after the Maidan and the beginning of the war on the Donbass were undergoing significant changes. On the political scene, new parties emerged in the course of the protests and after their completion — «Petro Poroshenko Bloc», «People’s Front», «Self-help»), which to some extent became spokespeople for not regional, but national interests. Pro-European direction is the main feature of the leading political parties that have formed a coalition in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Conclusion. The party system of Ukraine as a result of social processes is at the beginning of a new stage in its development, an important feature of which is the increase in the influence of society (direct and indirect) on the political life of the state. Obviously, there is a demand from the public for the emergence of new politicians, new leaders and new political forces that citizens would like to see first and foremost speakers and defenders of their interests.

Development of attention: acting in special classes

The following paper aimed to present psychological practices that promoted the development of attention in children who attended Special Classes in a public school from a city located in the State of Sao Paulo. These Special Classes were designed for students who have not achieved the minimum score in regular school tests. In a participatory nature and interactive type the research assumed as theoretical and methodological perspective the Historical-Cultural Psychology, with an emphasis on Vygotsky’s interpretation of development and learning. Twenty-six students from the fourth and fifth grades from Elementary School participated in the research. The results reveal that practices such as orientation and planning of actions with children enables the meaningfulness of the activities developed, and concomitantly the self regulation of attention. However, meaningfulness to children is only consolidated when, through an expanded perception of the situation, they start to plan their actions based on a new model of thinking and understanding reality. This highlights the importance of the environment and the mediations to the development of attention and other Higher Mental Functions.

Individual Difference in Goal Motives and Goal Content: The Role of Action and State Orientation

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether hesitant or preoccupied people (state-oriented) have different goal content and motives compared to initiative or disengaged people (action-oriented). People rated the degree of autonomous versus controlled feelings for extrinsic or intrinsic types of goals. Results showed that action-oriented people had a higher autonomous motive than state-oriented people for intrinsic goals, but not for extrinsic goals. Moreover, action-oriented individuals were related to a more internalised goal content (intrinsic goal) than state-oriented individuals. Implications for goal internalisation are discussed.

Mapping the Terrain: Examining the Conditions for Alignment Between the Rhetoric of Health and Medicine and the Medical Humanities

ABSTRACTThis article offers an empirical study of literature in the rhetoric of health and medicine (RHM) and the medical humanities (MH). Article traces the topics, funding mechanisms, research methods, theoretical frameworks, evidence types, audience, discourse arrangement patterns, and action orientation that constitute the scholarship in the sample to offer a landscape of the current state of RHM and the MH. Findings can be leveraged to assess the potential for alignment between these fields for future research.