Inside the Black Box

Abstract

Historical trends in the study of human motivation reveal a movement away from an exclusive focus on external reinforcements and punishments in shaping behavior and toward the understanding, first, of internal mediating mechanisms and processes, and second, of the internal sources of motivation reflecting our evolved propensities and natures. The contributions in this volume are especially strong regarding these internal sources of motivation and mediational processes, with contributions focused on biological underpinnings, the dynamics of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, implicit and explicit cognition and self-appraisals, the roles of expectancies and goals, and the environmental and social factors that influence or moderate these motivation-relevant mechanisms and processes. Contributions also highlight the applied significance of contemporary motivation research, which is influencing practice and outcomes in domains such as parenting, education, physical activity, sport, work and organizations, and psychotherapy.