Psychological Motivation Research Articles

Validation crisitunity

Abstract Al-Hoorie et al. (2024: Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 1–23) illuminate a validation crisis within the second language (L2) Motivational Self System (L2MSS), revealing empirical flaws in its current measurement. Their analysis indicates a persistent lack of discriminant validity among the system’s constructs, issuing a fundamental challenge in distinguishing the concepts. These findings, echoing previous concerns, underscore a pressing need for theoretical refinement and methodological rigor within the field, leading the authors to advocate for a temporary halt in L2 self-studies to address these issues comprehensively. This commentary discusses the call for a substantive moratorium presented by Al-Hoorie et al. (2024: Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 1–23) as a necessary step toward resolving persistent challenges in the field. By highlighting historical issues and suggesting pathways for theoretical diversification and methodological advancement, I aim to foster a productive dialogue on motivational psychology in language learning while ensuring empirical robustness.

Readable and neutral? Reliability of crowdsourced misinformation debunking through linguistic and psycholinguistic cues

BackgroundIn the face of the proliferation of misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic, crowdsourced debunking has surfaced as a counter-infodemic measure to complement efforts from professionals and regular individuals. In 2021, X (formerly Twitter) initiated its community-driven fact-checking program, named Community Notes (formerly Birdwatch). This program allows users to create contextual and corrective notes for misleading posts and rate the helpfulness of others' contributions. The effectiveness of the platform has been preliminarily verified, but mixed findings on reliability indicate the need for further research.ObjectiveThe study aims to assess the reliability of Community Notes by comparing the readability and language neutrality of helpful and unhelpful notes.MethodsA total of 7,705 helpful notes and 2,091 unhelpful notes spanning from January 20, 2021, to May 30, 2023 were collected. Measures of reading ease, analytical thinking, affect and authenticity were derived by means of Wordless and Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC). Subsequently, the non-parametric Mann–Whitney U-test was employed to evaluate the differences between the helpful and unhelpful groups.ResultsBoth groups of notes are easy to read with no notable difference. Helpful notes show significantly greater logical thinking, authenticity, and emotional restraint than unhelpful ones. As such, the reliability of Community Notes is validated in terms of readability and neutrality. Nevertheless, the prevalence of prepared, negative and swear language in unhelpful notes indicates the manipulative and abusive attempts on the platform. The wide value range in the unhelpful group and overall limited consensus on note helpfulness also suggest the complex information ecology within the crowdsourced platform, highlighting the necessity of further guidance and management.ConclusionBased on the statistical analysis of the linguistic and psycholinguistic characteristics, the study validated the reliability of Community Notes and identified room for improvement. Future endeavors could explore the psychological motivations underlying volunteering, gaming, or even manipulative behaviors, enhance the crowdsourced debunking system and integrate it with broader efforts in infodemic management.

THE SYMBOLIC MEANING OF COLORS IN HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS

This study examines the symbolic meanings of colors in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, utilizing archetypal criticism and Carl Jung's theory of archetypal symbols. Through a qualitative analysis, the research explores how color functions as a tool for conveying deep thematic elements, enhancing the narrative, and reflecting the emotional and psychological states of the characters. Colors such as red, gold, green, black, white, and blue are shown to symbolize various abstract concepts, including friendship, bravery, immortality, power, love, and death. For instance, red and gold are associated with Gryffindor House values like courage and friendship, while green symbolizes both dark power and the protective love of Harry’s mother. Black is linked to death and darkness, and white signifies purity and sacrifice. By investigating these symbolic associations, the study reveals how Rowling employs color as a narrative device to enrich the reader's understanding of the characters' journeys and the larger themes of good versus evil, sacrifice, and the pursuit of truth. This research highlights the significance of color symbolism as an integral part of the storytelling in the Harry Potter series, providing deeper insights into the novel's thematic layers and the psychological motivations of its characters.

The main motivational and value attitudes of pediatricians in choosing a vocation

Introduction. Determining the trajectory of a future career and understanding one’s occupational mission imposes responsibility on the life in the individual and society as a whole. Among many vocations, one of the most difficult, not only in terms of maste­ring, the need for constant updating of special knowledge, but also because of many moral and ethical aspects, is the occupation of a doctor. The purpose of the work is to identify the leading factors of motivation for professional self-determination of pediatricians. Materials and methods. One hundred six pediatricians practicing in Moscow, graduated from 35 medical universities of the country took part in the work. An online questionnaire was used for sociological analysis. The respondents were selected using the “snowball” method. Results. Leading factors encouraging the choice of pediatrics as a an vocation were found to be the interest of the person himself in the profession (67%) and the opportunity to help people (19.8%). This indicates the psychological motives of a person in choosing a profession to dominate over social motives. The prestige of the profession and the influence of parents are not considered the main motives for choosing (4.7% and 2.8%, respectively). Most of the pediatricians surveyed (63.2%) are completely satisfied with their chosen profession, which indicates a conscious decision at the time of admission and a desire to develop further within the chosen vocation. Due to their own choice, 95.3% of respondents plan to work in pediatrics in the future. 64.2% of respondents see the main benefit for other people and society in improving children’s health. Conclusion. The dominant motives of professional self-determination of pediatricians, determining the choice of a future specialty, are personal conscious goal-setting in choosing a medical vocation and the opportunity to help children. Working as a pediatrician guarantees a high degree of satisfaction from the chosen path and daily activities.

Using the sociopolitical motive × intergroup threat model of intergroup relations to understand opposition to policies that promote social equality

AbstractIn the last several decades, social psychologists have identified several social and political motives that undergird conflict between groups (e.g., racial group conflict), and the conditions under which individuals holding these motives are most likely to oppose policies that promote greater equality between groups. In the current article, we introduce a framework that integrates these insights—the sociopolitical motive × intergroup threat model of intergroup relations—and leverage the model to help advocates for social equality identify likely sources of opposition to or support for their initiatives. By understanding the psychological motives that lead individuals to oppose or support policies that promote social equality, policymakers may be better positioned to craft and communicate policies in a manner that benefits and appeals to as many constituents as possible.

The Causes and Countermeasures of Juvenile Delinquency Motivation

Under the background of rapid development, people pay more and more attention to minors in society. Juvenile delinquency has always been a hot topic, and juvenile delinquency has become the mainstream of people's attention. It has become an important research topic in the main psychological field to study the causes of juvenile delinquency and its preventive measures. This paper aims to combine the psychological motivation of juvenile delinquency, analyze the factors that affect juvenile delinquency and analyze the reasons of juvenile delinquency from the perspectives of family, society and campus. The harmony of family relationship and parents' education directly affect children's psychological development. School is the key environment for young people to learn and interact with others, and school violence is the main factor leading to juvenile delinquency. The misconduct of teenagers may be attributed to the Internet. By studying this theme, we can support the reduction and prevention of juvenile delinquency. In addition, this study can also help to understand the causes of juvenile delinquency.

On the problem of interpreting Krotkaya’s suicide in F. M. Dostoevsky’s novel Krotkaya/A gentle creature

The article examines Fyodor Dostoevsky’s story Krotkaya (also titled A Gentle Creature) in the context of the interpretation of the main character’s suicide and provides a brief overview of opposing interpretations of the work. Despite the abundance of different interpretations, from biographical to religious connotations of the story, little attention has been paid to interpretations using a psychological approach. In connection with these, the author of the article proposes to expand the interpretation of the main character’s suicide from moral and ethical to psychological motives, by relying on the theory of destructive attraction developed by Sabina Spielrein. The article characterizes the concept of destructive drive and pays special attention to the issue of illustrations of the manifestation of the destructive drive directly from the main character of the story.

Psicología y literatura: algunas reflexiones sobre Doña rosita la soltera de García Lorca

Introduction: This study presents one of the 20th century’s most original and complex figures, writer Federico García Lorca (1898-1936). Through an in-depth psychological analysis of Lorca’s poetics, particularly his drama Doña Rosita la Soltera, the study aims to show that the characters created by Lorca may represent fragmented aspects of his own personality that project themselves, even unconsciously, onto the narrative. Methodology: The approach is based on the Psychology of Art and Literature, as developed by Professor Antonio Fusco, which involves investigating the psychological motivations behind the author’s creation of specific characters and scenarios. Results: The analysis reveals the impact of key life episodes on García Lorca, profoundly influencing his thoughts and leading to a realistic and pessimistic worldview. Discussion: Critical interpretative reflections are provided throughout, exploring the thematic opposition of Eros and Thanatos as essential to Lorca’s narrative. Conclusions: The study concludes that Lorca’s personal experiences significantly shaped his worldview, rendering it fragile and deeply infused with a stark vision of reality.

Factors Influencing the Intention of Cyberbullying Among College Students: A Study Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior

A large number of studies show that with the popularization of the Internet, the participation rate of the network has not declined, but the number of cyberbullying victims has grown significantly, and cyberbullying has become increasingly serious. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, this paper collects information on behavioral attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control of domestic college students regarding their intention of cyberbullying through questionnaires and studies their correlation to find out the factors influencing the intention of cyberbullying. Through correlation analysis, it is found that the behavioral attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control of college students are moderately and above positively correlated with the intention of cyberbullying. This finding can provide theoretical support for the practical application of adolescent motivational psychology to help adolescents use social media correctly, as well as for each social media platform to level the playing field and improve the commenting mechanism.

The interplay of identity fusion, social norms, and pro-environmental behavior: an exploration using the dictator game

ABSTRACT This research investigated how identity fusion with environmental issues interacts with social norms to shape pro-environmental behaviors, elucidating the psychological structure underlying environmental ideological engagement. Building upon a measure of identity fusion that captures both relational and doctrinal components of Zmigrod ideology framework, we found that higher identity fusion positively predicted donations to an environmental association in a Dictator Game paradigm. Importantly, results revealed an interaction between identity fusion and norm source on donation amounts. For individuals lower in environmental identity fusion, pro-environmental norms had a greater impact when originating from a sourcesharing their worldview (low-fused) compared to a distant group (high-fused). However, for individuals with high fusion, norm source proximity did not significantly impact donations. By illuminating this interplay between the relational and doctrinal facets of ideological thinking, this research advances understanding of the social and psychological motivators of environmental actions. These findings highlight the importance of considering identity alignment and social dynamics in fostering ecological engagement.

Enhancing digital literacy in later life: the role of perseverance and consistency of interest

ABSTRACT In an era where digital competence is increasingly crucial, understanding the factors that influence successful learning outcomes, especially among older adults, is vital. This study investigates the impact of psychological motivation, perseverance, consistency of interest, and instructor interaction on cognitive problem-solving abilities, subsequently affecting digital competence and individual impact. Utilizing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) on a sample of 459 older adults who have completed digital competence training, this research provides empirical insights into the learning process. Findings reveal that psychological motivation significantly influences cognitive problem-solving, which, in turn, enhances digital competence and personal achievement. Interestingly, while perseverance and interaction with instructors also positively impact problem-solving, consistency of interest does not show a significant effect. These results suggest the need for educational strategies that foster motivation and effective instructor-learner interaction to improve digital learning outcomes. The study underscores the importance of tailored digital education approaches for older adults, highlighting the role of motivational and cognitive factors in bridging digital divides and enhancing life quality through digital literacy.

Reproductive behavior of youth: theory and key factors

The reproductive behavior concept has been considered, which is the key to personal behavior formation in the context of childbirth and family formation. The analysis of approaches to reproductive behavior has been carried out, due to which main factors influencing reproductive behavior patterns formation have been highlighted. Material provision, the possibility to give children quality education and decent living conditions, the place of family and children in the system of values, as well as cultural norms in the complex influence behavior development in relation to family planning and childbirth. Currently, there is a problem of combining parenthood and the image of a successful careerist, so there is competition between the value aspects. The value of family and parenthood remains high, while the need for children decreases. In addition, psychological motives for having children prevail over economic and social ones. The topic of reproductive letting down contains many sides that need to be subjected to analysis. The difficulty lies in the fact that not only we operate with actual objective data, but also deal with personal and psychological characteristics, which complicates the analysis procedure, so it is necessary to further study the issue.

To What Extent Does Blind Box Marketing Affect Peoples Consuming Behavior?

Blind boxes, as an emerging industry, have gradually opened the Chinese market in recent years, and are sought after by consumers and various industries. It is a unique box that contains toys or other commodities, and people don't know what's inside until they open it. Meanwhile, continuous innovation has created a unique blind box marketing strategy, which uses consumers different motivations effectively to promote purchasing behavior. Based on the theory of consumer behavior and the strategy of blind box marketing +4p marketing theory (combined with AISAS model), this paper takes psychological motivation, demand motivation and investment motivation as intermediary paths to explore the impact on consumer purchasing behavior. Through the analysis of literature, questionnaire and tools such as SPSS25.0, the conclusions of relevant research are drawn: the effective combination of blind box marketing and product strategy can have a significant positive impact on consumers' purchasing behavior. The tremendous positive impact of price strategy on consumers' purchasing behavior is based on the consideration of different age groups. Place strategy and promotion strategy can only serve as the intermediary path between consumers' purchasing behavior, but cannot have a significant positive impact on them. Finally, through the above research, some suggestions for blind box marketing are provided.

Against the depoliticisation of Palestinian female shahids

Palestinian women’s engagement with politics and their appropriation of conventionally masculine acts of martyrdom during the Second Intifada (2002–2005) have been subject to intense public debate, media scrutiny and contested cultural representations. This article, drawing on studies of terrorism as well as translation theory, examines first-hand accounts of acts of martyrdom by Palestinian women, which uphold Palestinian national and religious discourses of sacrifice. Failing to grapple with how and why Palestinians recognise these women’s acts as martyrdom, many Euro-American and Israeli scholars focus on personal, social and psychological motivations. While many Euro-American and Israeli scholars construct Palestinian female martyrs as socially deviant, we develop a different framework to understand female martyrdom on more local terms that resonate with Palestinians’ lived experience. We introduce five Palestinian female martyrs’ video testimonies that scholarship to date has overlooked. We contend that Palestinian female martyrs (shahids) are conscious agents whose final acts underscore their adherence to religious and national discourses of sacrifice.

Features of student psychological well-being, self-organisation and motivation

Features of student psychological well-being, self-organisation and motivation

Impact of prosthodontic rehabilitation on psychological status and quality of life in maxillectomy patients of coronavirus disease 2019-associated mucormycosis at a tertiary care center: A prospective clinical study

Aims: The study was aimed to evaluate the effect of prosthodontic rehabilitation on psychological status (PS) and quality of life (QoL) in maxillectomy patients of coronavirus disease 2019-associated mucormycosis (CAM). Settings and Design: The study was designed as a prospective and clinical study. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four CAM patients undergoing maxillectomy and subsequent prosthetic rehabilitation were included. The treatment involved surgical, intermediate, and definitive obturator delivery at various phases of healing. PS was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), QOL using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Questionnaire-Head and Neck Module (EORTC QLQ-HandN35), and the functioning of obturator was assessed utilising the Obturator Functioning Scale (OFS) at various time points: before maxillectomy (T1), 2 weeks after maxillectomy (T2), 2 weeks upon usage of intermediate obturator (T3), just before delivery of definitive obturator (T4), and 12 weeks after the usage of definitive obturator (T5). Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using a social science statistical analysis program (Stata 14.0; StataCorp LLC, Texas, USA). The significance level was chosen <0.05. Shapiro–Wilk test was used to assess the normality of quantitative data. Student’s t-test was employed (α =0.05) to evaluate if the patient’s PS, QOL, and obturator function had changed over time. The Spearman correlation coefficient (α =0.05) was utilized to evaluate the correlation coefficient between PS, QOL, and obturator function seen at T3 and T5. Results: Out of 24 enrolled patients, nine were dropped out. HADS-anxiety score was the highest at T1 (18.6 ± 1.2) and HADS-depression score was the highest at T2 (18.8 ± 1.6). HADS scores decreased significantly (P = 0.001) after prosthetic rehabilitation. EORTC QLQ-HandN35 score was the highest at T2 (105.8 ± 29.5), with statistical significance (P = 0.001) after rehabilitation. OFS was the highest at T3 (51.9 ± 3.9) and lowest at T5 (25.4 ± 2.8). Conclusion: CAM and maxillectomy deliberately affects the PS and QOL. Prosthetic rehabilitation, psychological motivation, and education create greater improvement in PS and QOL. The progress in parameters showed an upward trend with good obturator quality over a period of time.

Psycho-social drivers influencing the adoption of asynchronous EdTech tools: a gendered perspective

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore a gendered perspective on how learners' intrinsic psychological motivators: valence, technology-innovativeness, self-development and self-efficacy as well as extrinsic social and institutional motivators, such as social norms and management commitment, collectively influence learners' behavioral intention to adopt asynchronous EdTech tools such as MOOCs.Design/methodology/approachA theoretical model was developed by integrating insights from social cognitive theory (SCT) and the technology acceptance model (TAM). Data were collected from 622 Indian college students across different academic levels who had enrolled in at least one MOOC. Data analysis was performed using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM). The bootstrapping method using IBM AMOS 23.0 software was adopted further for moderation analysis.FindingsThe study found that while intrinsic drivers were positively associated with behavioral intention, extrinsic drivers had a limited influence. The results of the moderation analysis showed that gender significantly influenced the relationship between self-development and perceived usefulness as well as the relationship between valence and perceived usefulness. Our study’s findings represent a significant contribution to theoretical advancements, indicating a notable shift in students' learning emphasis from social interactions to self-directed approaches. These results align closely with the principles of connectivism within the heutagogy theory framework, underscoring learners' responsibility in shaping their learning journey.Practical implicationsOur study findings hold significant practical implications for future applications. Based on our study’s findings on the positive impact of self-development and self-efficacy, it is crucial to offer structured and interactive learning options for guided experiences. Integrating digital skills training into MOOC curricula can enhance engagement across diverse learner levels, given the significant predictive power of technology innovativeness. Furthermore, emphasizing the benefits of MOOC certifications, such as career advancement or academic recognition, can increase their appeal and perceived value, considering the significance of “valence” as an influential factor.Originality/valueAsynchronous EdTech tools, notably MOOCs, have emerged as potent catalysts for social change, providing unparalleled accessibility, flexibility and avenues for lifelong learning. Our study pioneers an investigation into the impact of valence and technology innovativeness on learners' perceptions, significantly influencing their willingness to adopt MOOCs positively. By exploring nuanced sociological dynamics across diverse societies, our research underscores the necessity of customizing EdTech solutions to encompass diverse gender perspectives.

Differences and similarities in student residential mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic in Temuco and Montréal

An analysis of the motivations of university students from Temuco (Chile) and Montréal (Canada) to change residence during the COVID-19 pandemic is presented based on data from a simultaneous survey in the two cities carried out in 2021. Quantitative analysis based on Principal Component Analysis showed a bifurcation between both cases despite the similarities they presented. Contrary to expectations that moves are first and foremost about the redundancy of student accommodation during the temporary transition to online learning or the need for more amenable study space in the home, the results highlight the primacy of psychological motivations, although economic, material and to a lesser extent family-related reasons for moving remain important. The context of each case study also allows for establishing differences between motivations more closely linked to material aspects and psychological and physical well-being in Montréal, and family-related motivations and psychological well-being in Temuco. Exploring this tension between individual motivations and urban contexts opens a promising way forward for new comparative studies in student housing and studentification research.

The Secondary Home Furnishing Consumer: An Investigation into Psychological Motivations and Purchase Intention

Due to an increased interest in the circular economy, there has been a gradual shift to purchase used items including home furnishings by consumers. The secondhand home furnishing industry is gaining traction in the market and therefore, it is imperative to understand what is driving consumers to shop for these used pieces and adding them to their personal spaces. The purpose of this study was to explore psychological motivations for secondhand home furnishing consumption, including environmental sustainability, functionality, aesthetic style, and economics, and their impact on purchase intention. Guided by the theory of reasoned action, an online survey was administered to home furnishing consumers and data were analyzed quantitatively. Findings supported that the psychological motivations of environmental sustainability, functionality, and aesthetic style positively influenced consumer attitudes with purchase intentions of secondary home furnishing items. The results of this study expand the applicability of the TRA model specifically to secondhand home furnishing consumers. Practically, this study gives insights into secondary home furnishing consumers and their interest in environmental sustainability, functionality, and aesthetically appealing pieces.

Behavioral determinants of investment decisions: evidence from Indian retail equity investors in the wake of COVID-19 induced financial risks

Purpose The study aims to identify and understand the underlying behavioral tendencies and motivations influencing investor sentiments and examines the relationship between these underlying factors and investment decisions during the COVID-19-induced financial risks. Design/methodology/approach The study uses the primary data and information collected from 300 Indian retail equity investors using a nonprobability sampling technique, specifically purposive and snowball sampling. This research uses the insights from Phuoc Luong and Thi Thu Ha (2011) and Shefrin (2002) to delineate behavioral factors influencing investment decisions. Structural equation modeling estimates the causal relationship between underlying behavioral factors and investment decisions during the COVID-19-induced financial risks. Findings The study establishes that the “Regret Aversion,” “Gambler’s Fallacy” and “Greed” significantly influence investment decisions, and provide a comprehensive understanding of how psychological motivations shape investor behavior. Notably, “Mental Accounting” and “Conservatism” exhibit insignificance, possibly influenced by the unique socioeconomic context of the pandemic. The research contributes to 35% of variance understanding and prompts the researchers and policymakers to tailor investment strategies aligned to these behavioral tendencies. Research limitations/implications The findings hold policy implications for investors and policymakers and provide tailored recommendations including investor education programs and regulatory measures to ensure a resilient and informed investment community in the context of India's evolving financial landscapes. Originality/value Theoretically, behavior tendencies and motivations have been strongly linked to investment decisions in the stock market. Yet, empirical evidence on this relationship is limited in developing countries where investors focus on risk management. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to document the influence of underlying behavioral tendencies and motivation factors on investment decisions regarding retail equity in a developing country.