Psychological Motivation Research Articles

How backstory and direct address reformulate the Shakespearean character on television: The case of the missing psychological motivation for House of Cards’ Frank Underwood

This article delves into narrative elements of direct address and backstory in television, focusing on House of Cards (2012–19), Shakespeare’s Richard III and Game of Thrones (2011–19). Comparing dramaturgical approaches in stage plays and TV series, the study highlights House of Cards’ unique incorporation of a pragmatic use of the direct address to create ‘world-view’ for character exploration. The analysis extends to Game of Thrones, emphasizing Tyrion Lannister’s self-descriptive addresses revealing a psychological struggle rooted in rejection and backstory. The article proposes a methodological framework linking first lines or direct addresses to character backstories, emphasizing the role of self-descriptive asides in character creation. It introduces the concept of a ‘psychological motivational arc’ within character arcs, exploring how direct addresses contribute to nonlinear character development. Concluding with an in-depth examination of House of Cards’ Frank Underwood, it scrutinizes Willimon’s ‘show, don’t tell’ approach, questioning its potential limitations on character depth and challenging traditional screenwriting advice. The analysis unravels the interplay between direct address, backstory, and character development in television series, offering insights into evolving narrative techniques and their implications for contemporary screenwriting.

Incentives of the Mind: Kant and Baumgarten on the Impelling Causes of Desire

Abstract In this paper I propose to shed new light on the role of feeling in Kant’s psychology of moral motivation by focusing on his concept of an incentive (Triebfeder), which he borrowed from one of his most important rationalist predecessors, Alexander Gottlieb Baumgarten. I argue that, similar to Baumgarten, Kant understands an incentive to refer to the ground of desire, and that feelings function as a specific kind of ground within Kant’s psychology of moral action, namely as the ‘impelling cause’ of desire. I claim that this interpretation has several advantages over the alternatives currently on offer in the literature.

Need Satisfaction, Motivation, and Learning Strategies in Undergraduate Kinesiology Students

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of basic psychological need satisfaction and motivation on students’ use of deep and surface learning strategies across undergraduate kinesiology courses. This study used a survey consisting of demographic questions and three self-report questionnaires assessing basic need satisfaction, motivation, and deep and surface learning strategies. The survey was administered via Qualtrics at the end of two semesters (fall 2020 and spring 2021). The participants consisted of 1,125 undergraduate kinesiology students (81.9% female, 55.3% white, 94.8% non-Hispanic) at a midsize university in the southeastern part of the United States. Path modeling showed that intrinsic motivation was influenced by autonomy, competence, and relatedness, while identified regulation was influenced by autonomy and competence. Relatedness also influenced both introjected regulation and external regulation. Participants’ intrinsic motivation and identified regulation negatively predicted surface learning strategies while external regulation positively predicted surface learning strategies. Intrinsic motivation and identified motivation predicted deep learning strategies. Interestingly, all three basic psychological needs predicted deep learning strategies. These findings underscore the importance of satisfying basic needs to influence motivation and, in certain cases, learning strategies. While it is evident that the use of deep learning strategies would be highly beneficial for this group of learners, kinesiology students may not rely on these strategies due to a lack of intrinsic motivation and basic need satisfaction. Although future research is necessary to test the causal links between these constructs, supporting students’ basic psychological needs and fostering intrinsic motivation could contribute to the use of deeper learning strategies.

Aiming high: Learning investments in German upper secondary education. Differences between immigrant and non-immigrant youth

This article addresses important aspects of the largely unexplored interplay between high educational aspirations and low academic achievement in migratory contexts. Using data from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS), I examine the determinants of learning investments of students who changed from vocational to academic tracking at the transition to upper secondary education. I also explore additional social challenges to upward track mobility that might affect immigrant students in a particular way. As educational disparities are often interpreted as a cumulative consequence of class- and migration-specific educational choices, I develop a learning investment model that explains differences in learning investments between immigrant and non-immigrant youth. I introduce the essential mechanisms of psychological motivation theory into a subjective expected utility (SEU) model, which allows for a specific examination of the relationship between educational aspirations, motivation, and learning investments. Results show that newcomers to academic tracking are more likely to invest in learning. Yet, learning investments in upward mobility processes may be influenced by the different learning environments of stratified education and by family dynamics. Here, I find differences between immigrant and non-immigrant youth. Thus, introducing motivational factors into an SEU model helps to understand when youth invest in learning.

Exploring the Impact of Accessibility on Place Attachment in Urban Public Open Spaces: A Case Study of Jiamusi City, China

Urban public open spaces are crucial for residents’ well-being, yet accessibility issues persist, affecting activities and social interactions. To this end, we take the main urban area of Jiamusi City, the most northeastern city in China, as an example. We start by examining both spatial and perceptual dimensions, using the Gaussian two-step moving search method to measure spatial accessibility, combining online data with multi-source data from questionnaires. Furthermore, we utilize structural equation modeling to explore the impact of accessibility on place attachment within urban public open spaces. The results show that (1) accessibility has a positive effect on place attachment, while place satisfaction plays a mediating role. (2) There were significant differences in spatial accessibility across modes of travel. Car travel had the best spatial accessibility, followed by bicycle, and walking had the lowest spatial accessibility. (3) Perceived accessibility and spatial accessibility differ, but perceived accessibility it is more persuasive in explaining and illustrating place attachment. Reducing travel costs and meeting the user needs will effectively increase place attachment and place identity. (4) Social factors such as age, education, and residency length also affect accessibility, satisfaction, and attachment. By understanding the impact of accessibility on place attachment, this study helps urban planners to better design urban spatial layout and transportation networks. It enhances people’s attachment to specific places by improving the convenience of traveling, promotes sustainable urban development, and enriches the discourse on the enhancement of psychological motivation in urban public open spaces.

A Review of Circularity Indicators and Psychological Factors: a Comprehensive Analysis of Circularity Practices in Organizations

Introduction. In a booming global economy of finite resources, pandemics, armed conflict and irresponsible over-consumption, attention to the nature of finite resources becomes imperative. The transition to a circular economic model lies at the intersection of economic development and environmental protection needs, significantly impacting today's society and future generations. Research and understanding of the circular economy are catalysts for accelerating processes to change the current unsustainable paradigm. This study reviews the literature and identifies how circularity indicators are addressed at the organisational level.
 Aim and tasks. The study aims to review and synthesise the literature on micro-level circular indicators, psychological factors, and relevant theories in the context of organisational performance, as well as identify knowledge gaps and ways the two elements can be integrated into the circularity assessment.
 Results. The study shows no universally accepted method to measure the circular economy at the organisational level. Most indicators focus only on the environment, ignoring the social dimension, while many indicators in the literature are not standardized and cannot be compared. It has also been identified that the social component needs to be better represented, with all the attention focused on the environment. Within the social component, organisational psychology (organisational culture, satisfaction, attitudes, leadership, motivation, and employee well-being) is almost not represented in the studies and indicators, as they are highly relevant to the social component.
 Conclusions. This systematic review provides an overview of existing indicators and measurement tools at the organisational level. Following the analysis and results presented above, it can be said that although underexplored, the social dimension of the circular economy has begun to attract attention in the literature. The present research highlights the relevance of the social aspect in the circular economy and suggests that it has been undervalued in research to date. Irrespective of the specific areas of interest of different studies, there is a growing need for a more comprehensive understanding of the social impact of the circular economy, which would include all aspects of social life, from jobs and education to civic engagement and behaviour change.

Grisham's "A Time To Kill": Temporary Insanity And Psychological Theory To Seek Justice

In this study, the psychological effects of racial prejudice within the legal system are investigated. The novel "A Time to Kill" by John Grisham serves as a source of inspiration for this investigation. The study employs a rigorous literary analysis methodology to investigate how Attorney Jake Brigance strategically employs the concept of temporary insanity to navigate the intricate mechanisms of justice. More precisely, the study focuses on how Attorney Brigance takes advantage of that concept. The purpose of this analysis is to dissect the intricate relationship that exists between an individual's psyche and the prejudices that are prevalent in society by delving into the psychological motivations that drive the characters. The purpose of this research is to shed light on the psychological impact of racial prejudice in challenging legal scenarios by examining the emotions that are evoked in both the audience and the characters. These emotions influence decision-making processes and the outcomes of legal cases. This investigation contributes to a deeper understanding of societal issues and the intricate psychological dynamics that are inherent in navigating the legal system in the face of prejudice and injustice. The research paper aims to be accomplished by conducting a comprehensive examination of the psychological themes and legal aspects that are present in Grisham's work.

Explore the Influence of E-commerce Live Broadcast on Consumers' Purchase Intention: Based on the Motivational Psychology Theory

E-commerce online live shopping has become intricately woven into the fabric of people's daily lives. This study adopts empirical statistical research methods to identify factors influencing consumers' purchase intentions within the realm of e-commerce live broadcasting. Drawing upon the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model and motivational psychological theory, a comprehensive model for consumer purchase intentions in the context of e-commerce live streaming is formulated. Users' perceived interactivity, perceived content quality, and perceived trust in live streamers are taken as antecedent variables, and users' emotional motivation and cognitive motivation are taken as intermediate variables. Use the user's purchase intention as the result variable. Assume that the three anthems positively affect the two intermediate variables, and the two intermediate variables positively affect the outcome variables. After a series of data analyses, all the proposed hypothesis studies are valid. In other words, the interaction of users' perception of live broadcasts when watching e-commerce, the quality of content, and their trust in live streamers will positively affect users' emotional motivation and cognitive motivation, and the emotional motivation and cognitive motivation generated by users will also positively affect users' purchase intention. There are mediating effects between affective motivation and cognitive motivation in the hypothesis model.

We can be heroes at work: the relationship between psychological capital, motivation and well-being during the great resignation

PurposeThe Great Resignation has led to a significant increase in the number of people quitting their jobs due to reasons such as stagnant wages, rising cost of living, job dissatisfaction and safety concerns. Therefore, the aim of this study is that it is important to help people develop better cognitive resources to face adversity.Design/methodology/approachThe Great Resignation has led to a significant increase in the number of people quitting their jobs due to reasons such as stagnant wages, rising cost of living, job dissatisfaction and safety concerns. Therefore, it is important to help people develop better cognitive resources to face adversity. In this study, we administered a questionnaire to 250 employees to determine the variables that could help them build cognitive resources. These variables included the satisfaction of basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence and affiliation), psychological capital, motivation regulation (within the self-determination theory) and well-being (assessed by self-esteem, positive emotions, positive automatic thoughts and vitality). The results revealed that satisfaction of basic needs is associated with better psychological capital and more self-autonomous behavior, which leads to higher psychological well-being. These findings are discussed in the paper, emphasizing the importance of management and work context that satisfy the basic needs and help to build resources with psychological capital.FindingsThe results revealed that satisfaction of basic needs is associated with better psychological capital and more self-autonomous behavior, which leads to higher psychological well-being. These findings are discussed in the paper, emphasizing the importance of management and work context that satisfy the basic needs and help to build resources with psychological capital.Originality/valueHighlight the importance of consequences of the Great Resignation and the need to internationalize this concept.

Linguistic Personality of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Character Nebula: Narrative and LIWC Analyses

Blockbuster films intended for an international audience often depict universally recognisable psychological motivations and limitations, presenting characters whose verbal expressions create distinct psychological impressions. This paper focused on the relationship between language use, including narratives and psychological categories of words, and the psychological traits of cinematic personalities. The study aimed to investigate how a character's language usage exposed their personality, psychological attributes, and transformations throughout their story arc and archetype. To achieve this, in the research a connection between Maslow's hierarchy of human needs, Jung's concept of archetypes, and Schmidt's typology of master characters in fiction was drawn, which expanded the understanding of the heroine Nebula from Guardians of the Galaxy verbal behavior. The research further defined the character's psychological image and arc by analysing their speech patterns. It identified the character's archetypes, namely the Backstabber and the Father's Daughter, and explored the progression between these archetypes. Additionally, the article employed the narrative analysis to construct the character's story. The narrative analysis was concluded with the implementation of the LIWC-22 psycholinguistic analysis in order to validate the findings derived from the psycholinguistics and cinematic studies. This method allowed for a comprehensive examination of the language used by cinematic characters, providing insights into their psychological traits and development. Ultimately, this research has contributed to the comprehension of how people's psychological characteristics are depicted and communicated through language in mass cinematography.

Nephrologists’ perspectives on communication and decision-making regarding technique survival in peritoneal dialysis: an international qualitative interview study

ObjectivesPeritoneal dialysis (PD) allows patients increased autonomy and flexibility; however, both infectious and non-infectious complications may lead to technique failure, which shortens treatment longevity. Maintaining patients on PD remains a...

Anger and Political Conflict Dynamics

Emotions shape strategic conflict dynamics. However, the precise way in which strategic and emotional concerns interact to affect international cooperation and contention are not well understood. We propose a model of intergroup conflict under incomplete information in which agents are sensitive to psychological motivations in the form of anger. Agents become angry in response to worse-than-expected outcomes due to actions of other players. Aggression may be motivated by anger or by beliefs about preferences of members of the other group. Increasing one group’s sensitivity to anger makes that group more aggressive but reduces learning about preferences, which makes the other group less aggressive in response to bad outcomes. Thus, anger has competing effects on the likelihood of conflict. The results have important implications for understanding the complex role of anger in international relations and, more generally, the interplay between psychological and material aims in both fomenting and ameliorating conflict.

Internal and External Factors Influencing Rural Households’ Investment Intentions in Building Photovoltaic Integration Projects

Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) contributes to promoting green and low-carbon transformation in rural areas. In order to better guide rural households to invest in BIPV projects and promote the goal of “carbon neutrality” in China’s building sector, this study integrates the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the social cognitive theory (SCT), and the PEST analysis framework. It constructs a theoretical model from the perspective of “External Factors-Internal Psychology-Investment Intention” to investigate rural households’ investment intentions toward BIPV projects and their influencing factors. Basic data were collected from 488 valid questionnaires from rural households in Henan Province, and the theoretical model was empirically tested using structural equation modeling. The results show that the model constructed from both internal and external factors effectively explains rural households’ investment intentions (II) toward BIPV projects (R2 = 0.89), with investment attitude (IA) being the strongest psychological motivation leading to their II. All four external factors—policy, economic, social, and technological—positively influence II with diminishing effects. Additionally, the policy factor has the most significant effect on IA, while the economic factor has a more prominent effect on perceived behavioral control (PBC), and the technological factor has a relatively weaker effect on the two psychological factors. Furthermore, the four external factors indirectly influence investment intentions through the two psychological factors of IA and PBC, with the mediating effect of IA being higher than PBC. Based on the findings, this study proposes effective suggestions to enhance rural households’ investment intentions toward BIPV projects.

Reflective Engagement With a Digital Physical Activity Intervention Among People Living With and Beyond Breast Cancer: Mixed Methods Study.

People living with and beyond breast cancer can face internal barriers to physical activity (eg, fatigue and pain). Digital interventions that promote psychological acceptance and motivation may help this population navigate these barriers. The degree to which individuals (1) adhere to intervention protocols and (2) reflect on and internalize intervention content may predict intervention efficacy. The objective of this study was to characterize the nature of reflective processes brought about by an 8-week acceptance- and mindfulness-based physical activity intervention for insufficiently active survivors of breast cancer (n=75). Furthermore, we explored the potential utility of a metric of reflective processes for predicting study outcomes. Of the intervention's 8 weekly modules, 7 (88%) included an item that asked participants to reflect on what they found to be most useful. Two coders conducted directed content analysis on participants' written responses. They assessed each comment's depth of reflection using an existing framework (ranging from 0 to 4, with 0=simple description and 4=fundamental change with consideration of social and ethical issues). The coders identified themes within the various levels of reflection. We fit multiple linear regression models to evaluate whether participants' (1) intervention adherence (ie, number of modules completed) and (2) the mean level of the depth of reflection predicted study outcomes. Participants were aged on average 57.2 (SD 11.2) years, mostly non-Hispanic White (58/75, 77%), and mostly overweight or obese (54/75, 72%). Of the 407 responses to the item prompting personal reflection, 70 (17.2%) were rated as reflection level 0 (ie, description), 247 (60.7%) were level 1 (ie, reflective description), 74 (18.2%) were level 2 (ie, dialogic reflection), 14 (3.4%) were level 3 (ie, transformative reflection), and 2 (0.5%) were level 4 (ie, critical reflection). Lower levels of reflection were characterized by the acquisition of knowledge or expressing intentions. Higher levels were characterized by personal insight, commentary on behavior change processes, and a change of perspective. Intervention adherence was associated with increases in self-reported weekly bouts of muscle-strengthening exercise (B=0.26, SE 0.12, 95% CI 0.02-0.50) and decreases in sleep disturbance (B=-1.04, SE 0.50, 95% CI -0.06 to -2.02). The mean level of reflection was associated with increases in psychological acceptance (B=3.42, SE 1.70, 95% CI 0.09-6.75) and motivation for physical activity (ie, integrated regulation: B=0.55, SE 0.25, 95% CI 0.06-1.04). We identified a useful method for understanding the reflective processes that can occur during digital behavior change interventions serving people living with and beyond breast cancer. Intervention adherence and the depth of reflection each predicted changes in study outcomes. Deeper reflection on intervention content was associated with beneficial changes in the determinants of sustained behavior change. More research is needed to investigate the relations among digital behavior change intervention use, psychological processes, and intervention efficacy.

Nurturing the scientific mind: resilience and job satisfaction among Saudi faculty.

This study examines the interplay between psychological resilience, job satisfaction and research motivation among teachers at Saudi Arabian universities. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between satisfaction and academic performance and well-being. The data is based on a survey of 321 faculty members, and descriptive statistics and correlations are used. The research instruments included a self-developed scale to measure these constructs, and data analysis was conducted using SPSS software. The findings revealed moderate job satisfaction levels, with a significant correlation between resilience and both job satisfaction and research motivation. Resilience was identified as a key predictor of job satisfaction, especially among professors compared to lecturers. Uniquely focused on the Saudi academic context, this study offers insights into culturally specific factors affecting academic faculty, underscoring the importance of enhancing resilience and satisfaction within academic settings. These implications align with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals, suggesting targeted strategies to improve faculty well-being and performance.

The impact of personality traits and cultural values on coordination effectiveness: A study of software development teams effectiveness

AbstractSoftware development projects depend on collaborative teams. In the past 50 years of research, various studies have explored the effect of software engineer's personality traits and cultural values on team performance. These studies have led to better understand these relationships; however, how the personality traits and cultural values influence the team effectiveness is still far away in the literature. This research aims to investigate the relationships between social and psychological complexities (including personality traits and cultural values), team coordination, team motivation, and team success (which comprises team effectiveness and team climate) to explore the impact of social and psychological issues on software team success. An online survey targeting software development professionals and unstructured interviews were followed for data collection. We received 112 responses from software developers working in different countries. Findings indicate that personality traits and cultural values, that is, consciousness, openness, harmony, and autonomy, have positive relationship with team coordination effectiveness, while other factors such as neuroticism, embeddedness, hierarchy, and mastery were found to be related negatively with it. These negative relationships can be mitigated by motivating team members appropriately. Based on our research findings, we conclude that the negative impact caused by different personality and cultural traits could be reduced by improving team coordination effectiveness using effective motivation.

The social psychological predictors of men’s backlash responses to the #MeToo movement

Although the #MeToo movement embarked on addressing sexual harassment, it also addressed gender inequality in various domains and demanded a change in the status quo to achieve greater gender equality. Many men around the globe joined the #MeToo movement and supported it. However, the movement also experienced significant backlash. Across a preliminary study and two studies ( N = 667), we examined the gender-based social psychological motivations underlying men’s willingness to take peaceful and violent collective action (a) against the #MeToo movement and (b) promoting men’s movement. In particular, we examined the gender-based attitudinal (i.e., collective responsibility, zero-sum beliefs), ideological (i.e., male entitlement), and emotional (i.e., collective humiliation) antecedents of willingness to engage in different forms of collective action. We also tested whether humiliation is the most proximal predictor of action. Our results highlighted the importance of male entitlement, zero-sum beliefs, and collective responsibility in motivating men to engage in peaceful and violent action, and indirectly affecting both forms of collective action through collective humiliation. We discuss the implications of these findings and suggest future directions for discrimination prevention and gender equality.

A Socially Realistic Study of Crime and Corruption in P.D. James’ Works

P.D. James is a well - known author of both crime and mysteries who is recognized with enlarging the mystery subgenre. Even though she uses aspects of traditional detective fiction, James is particularly concerned in establishing the psychological motivations of her characters. James is renowned for her sophisticated written style, which is accentuated by literary allusions and quotations, as well as for the vivid, realistic characters and locations she creates. Writing detective fiction is one of James's passions and she strives to use the techniques that make "serious fiction" gratifying while still adhering to the genre's rules. She was interested in realism as early as her writings show. Her literary style is distinct from the classic "country house mystery" of conventional British detective fiction, in which static characters exist solely to further the plot of the mystery. Despite being constructed in the traditional "whodunnit" way, these novels rely on developed, convincing characterizations.

The risky news sharing quotient (RNSQ): A research instrument for exploring news-sharing behaviour that spreads fake news

The spread of fake news (FN) has attracted attention from disciplines ranging from social sciences to Artificial Intelligence. This work is novel because it explores the news-sharing behaviour of social-media users, focussing on those that spread FN, rather than the psychological motivations behind them. The 14-item Risky News-Sharing Quotient (RNSQ) was developed and Exploratory Factor Analysis discovered three relevant factors: (i) news-sharing behaviour that contributes to debunking FN; (ii) news-sharing frequency and attitudes to sharing; and (iii) news-sharing behaviour that contributes to the spread of FN. The study, conducted among university students, found that 75% reported risky news-sharing behaviour that spreads FN. No link was found between perceiving FN as a problem and debunking it. Moreover, 83% of survey participants were unable to identify a FN story. Overall, the findings suggest an inability to apply knowledge of the relevant FN detection strategies to debunk FN, but importantly an apparent lack of motivation to check the veracity of a news story. From these conclusions, better-informed educational intervention strategies can be implemented to address the FN problem in-situ, such as promoting the importance of responsible news-sharing by raising awareness of how the spread of FN can impede the proper functioning of societies.

Exploring farmer and advisor lameness management behaviors using the COM-B model of behavior change.

This paper applies the COM-B framework to farmer and farm advisor understandings and responses to lameness in sheep, beef, and dairy systems. It reflects on how farmers' and advisors' capability, opportunity, and motivation (COM-B) influence lameness management practices in these farming systems, and considers the interaction between these three factors, and stakeholders' behavior. Interviews with 29 farmers and 21 farm advisors in the north of England were conducted. Thematic analysis was undertaken with results categorized in relation to the COM-B framework focusing on barriers and enablers of lameness management. Use of the COM-B model provides a useful means of understanding the underlying behavioral mechanisms that contribute toward the persistence of lameness. This includes the complexities and interactions which hamper implementation of lameness management best practice. The findings highlight three key areas to address with interventions to improve lameness management on farm: (1) removing physical and social barriers for lameness management; (2) improving psychological capability and motivation for lameness management; and (3) facilitating relationships and developing communication between farmers and advisors. In particular, the value of exploring both farmer and advisor perspectives on behavior in the animal health context is demonstrated. Future interventions should look to target these three areas to overcome barriers and focus on factors that enable positive lameness practices to occur.