Articles tagged with Motivation
A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that Project WebHealth, a web-based health promotion intervention, successfully motivated college students to improve their weight-related health behaviors. The level of motivation differed by gender, with women being generally more motivated than men.
A new study by Columbia Business School and University of Pittsburgh professors predicts Twitter's user engagement will slow down, shifting from a social network to a content-delivery platform. Everyday users are expected to stop posting as much, while celebrities and commercial users will continue to post for financial gain.
Researchers found that approximately 13% of smokers used e-cigarettes as a means of quitting, with younger smokers more likely to use them. E-cigarette users were also found to be more motivated to quit smoking compared to those who tried other cessation aids.
A study of 1423 egg donors across 11 European countries found that altruism is the primary motivation, but financial compensation plays a significant role in some countries. The majority of donors are young women who expect personal benefits, and their age affects their motivations.
Research at the University of Liverpool found that individuals with depression tend to set broad, abstract personal goals, making it harder to visualize and achieve them. This can create a downward cycle of negative thoughts, further exacerbating depression.
New studies examine how people react to terrorist threats, gamble for money vs suspense, and the link between sex motivation and satisfaction. Additionally, research challenges traditional birth order theories and reveals attentional biases in shopping situations.
A University of British Columbia study sheds light on why people attempt suicide, providing a new tool to advance suicide prevention and improve treatments. The Inventory of Motivations for Suicide Attempts (IMSA) is the most accurate and first scientifically tested measure for evaluating a person's motivations for suicide.
A recent study by USC Marshall School of Business professor Scott S. Wiltermuth found that segmenting rewards into arbitrary categories increases motivation. Participants worked longer on tasks when rewards were separated into categories, as they felt they would miss out on potential benefits if they didn
Researchers have identified four verbs uniquely describing Pinterest, highlighting the site's focus on consumption. Female users tend to re-pin more than male users, with men having more followers. The study provides insights for both academia and industry, including Pinterest's commercial potential.
Researchers found that audiences are drawn to violent content due to a desire to confront and understand real-life problems, rather than solely for entertainment. The study used a large binational sample to examine the motivations behind exposure to violent portrayals, suggesting a more complex and nuanced understanding of human behavior.
A study found that patients with greater knowledge and motivation about transplantation are more likely to receive a living donor transplant. This suggests that improving patient education may help reduce disparities in transplantation outcomes.
A study published in Psychology & Marketing compared consumers' perceptions of luxury across nine countries. In the US, luxury goods are bought for self-fulfillment, while in France, they're valued for their exclusivity and high price. Other European countries like Germany, Italy, Hungary, and Slovakia prioritize quality over prestige.
Researchers found that cues for rewards can instantly transform motivation, with even unpleasant events becoming desired. The study used salt appetite to demonstrate how powerful neural mechanisms can turn a repulsive cue into an attractive one.
A University of Oregon study finds that patients with higher levels of motivation, knowledge, and confidence in managing their health have substantially lower healthcare costs. The researchers recommend assessing patient activation scores to support more engaged patients and improve outcomes.
Research reveals African American women exhibit higher risk for HIV/AIDS due to lower condom use expectations. The study suggests tailored interventions addressing mediators like self-esteem and coping are crucial in increasing condom use, particularly in high-risk casual relationships.
New research published in Psychological Science found that public campaigns urging Americans to think and act interdependently may actually decrease motivation for action. In contrast, Asian American students' behavior was not affected by emphasis on interdependence.
A study published in Medical Care suggests that attempting to correct false beliefs about health care reform can backfire among individuals with positive views of Sarah Palin and high levels of political knowledge. The researchers found that more aggressive fact-checking increased misperceptions and opposition to the Affordable Care Ac...
Researchers discovered a key protein receptor plays a crucial role in motivation during physical exercise, explaining why many people struggle to stick to their fitness goals. The CB1 cannabinoid receptor regulates the brain's reward system, controlling how long individuals engage in voluntary physical activity.
A Cornell University study found that serving vegetables with dinner increases the positive response of the meal and its preparer. Parents surveyed by researchers rated vegetable-prepared meals as more complete, loving, and tasty, and perceived the cook as more thoughtful and attentive.
A new model developed by Concordia researcher Mohammed Othman takes into account workers' personality strengths and differences to create a more efficient workforce planning system. The result is a significant cost savings of 7.1% compared to traditional approaches.
A Kansas State University study found that exercising with a teammate perceived as better increases workout time and intensity, but only when the partner is approximately 40% more skilled. Over time, this motivation can lead to significantly longer exercise sessions.
Researchers used optogenetics to map the neural mechanisms underlying motivation, revealing multiple switches that control behavioral patterns. They identified key regions in the brain stem and prefrontal cortex involved in motivation, shedding light on the causes of depression and psychomotor retardation.
A study published in Archives of Dermatology found that nearly 40% of participants in Germany had ever used a sunbed, with women being more likely to use them. The main motivations for tanning were relaxation and attractiveness, while the risk of skin cancer was significantly increased by sunbed use.
Researchers argue that self-control is not a depletable resource but rather a process influenced by motivation, attention, and individual perceptions. This new perspective has implications for understanding behaviors related to important problems like obesity and impulsive spending.
A new study from Brigham Young University found that moderate-to-vigorous exercise in the morning can decrease a person's motivation for food. The research measured neural activity in women while they viewed food images before and after exercise, revealing a lower attentional response to food pictures after the workout.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers pay more when given different options for short-term goals, but pay less when pursuing long-term goals. By strategically choosing between similar options, consumers can maintain motivation and achieve their objectives.
Cocaine withdrawal affects emotion and motivation due to the activation of CB1 cells in the brain. These cells, responsible for regulating nerve cell communication, slow down activity in the nucleus accumbens when an addict is high on cocaine, leading to a drag on emotions and motivation during withdrawal.
Research suggests that time perception is influenced by approach motivation, with goal-oriented activities making it feel like time is passing quickly. This effect is specific to states high in approach motivation, such as desire or excitement, which narrow memory and attention processes.
A new study published in Psychological Science found that parental involvement can significantly increase the number of students enrolled in STEM courses. The intervention involved sending parents glossy brochures and a dedicated website to promote STEM education, resulting in more advanced math and science classes taken by participati...
A study published in Psychological Science found that reminding people of their mortality motivates them to behave in ways that ensure their personal legacy, leaving a positive impact on the environment. Participants who were primed with thoughts of death gave more money to charities serving impoverished communities in the future.
A new study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies suggests that consumers who buy life experiences to impress others experience a decrease in happiness. In contrast, individuals who purchase experiences for personal reasons report greater fulfillment and well-being.
Researchers at the University of Zurich found Epo increases oxygen transport in blood shortly after injection, improving exercise performance. The hormone also boosts motivation, which could be useful in treating depression and schizophrenia.
A new study from Michigan State University reveals that exercising with a moderately capable virtual partner can significantly boost motivation, with women cycling twice as long when working with a partner. The results suggest the gains observed over six hour-long sessions could be sustained on a longer-term program of exercise.
A new study published in Annals of Behavioral Medicine found that virtual exercise partners can significantly improve motivation and performance. Women who exercised with a more capable virtual partner cycled an average of two minutes longer than those who worked out alone, and reported no decline in motivation to exercise.
Researchers found that participants rated celebrity-morphed images as more trustworthy than control faces, suggesting a subconscious effect of familiarity. The study suggests that automatic perceptions of familiarity may have greater influence on consumer behavior than physical attractiveness.
Researchers found that motivation, a basic building block of human emotion, is computed mainly in the right hemisphere of the brain for left-handers, contrary to previous studies. This discovery has significant implications for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders, which often involve targeting the left hemisphere.
A new human study suggests that dopamine levels in the brain play a crucial role in determining how hard people work. Individuals with higher dopamine activity in certain areas showed greater motivation and effort, while those with increased dopamine in other areas were less likely to exert effort.
A Vanderbilt University study found that individual differences in dopamine levels in specific brain areas affect motivation and willingness to work for rewards. The research provides new insights into the role of dopamine in human behavior and may have implications for treating mental illnesses like depression and schizophrenia.
A shift in attention can make all the difference in reaching goals, according to a new study. Consumers often start towards a goal but struggle to finish it. Focusing on small areas of progress instead of large ones increases motivation and adherence to goals.
Brown capuchin monkeys demonstrate empathetic perspective-taking by withholding food from a fellow monkey who has just eaten, suggesting they understand their physical needs. The study provides first evidence for this behavior in primates.
A new study found that individuals motivated to actively change bad habits are more likely to make impulsive decisions that undermine their long-term goals. In contrast, those primed with words suggesting inaction found it easier to avoid such decisions.
A study found that the ventral striatum in the brain drives motivation during actions requiring physical and mental effort. The researchers discovered a general motivational system, activating both cognitive and motor parts of the brain depending on task difficulty.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that repeating experiences can renew appreciation for both the object of consumption and oneself. Participants reported enhanced emotional lives and mental health benefits from re-consumption, with various motivations including self-reflection and social sharing.
Researchers found that motivation to exercise changes on a weekly basis and is linked to behavior. Consistently strong intentions are key to following through on physical activity goals.
A study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that stating an intention to buy a product makes consumers more likely to choose their preferred brand. This motivation narrows their focus, pushing other well-liked brands to the back until the consumer has accomplished the intention.
Researchers Jordan Etkin and Rebecca K. Ratner found that consumers who believe they are close to their fitness goals prefer a limited variety of products. In contrast, those who feel further from their goals are more motivated by a larger selection of options.
A study found that experts are more motivated by negative feedback than novices, while novices respond better to positive feedback. This suggests that marketers should target experts with negative feedback to promote motivation and change attitudes.
Regular physical activity is associated with a lower risk of suffering depression in old age. Self-determined motivation and perceived competence are key factors in persuading elderly people to exercise more.
A study by Kristin Laurin found that reminding people of God decreases their motivation to pursue personal goals, yet improves their ability to resist temptation. Participants who believed in an omniscient entity watching over them were more likely to resist temptations and achieve major life goals.
A study published in Current Biology found that human children consistently chose to cooperate with others over working alone, whereas chimpanzees showed no such preference. The researchers suggest that this behavioral difference may be rooted in small motivational differences between humans and other species.
Research suggests that human children exhibit a strong preference for working together to solve problems, with cooperation rates exceeding 78% compared to 58% for chimpanzees. This finding highlights a potential difference in motivation between humans and our primate cousins.
A new study published in Psychological Science explains how motivation drives groups to behave in a particular manner. The research found that a threat to American identity influences how Americans respond to the symbolic building of a mosque near Ground Zero.
A longitudinal study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that young adults undergo treatment ready to change, but lack confidence, coping skills, and commitment. Treatment increases their self-efficacy, enabling them to sustain healthy recovery efforts and improve outcomes.
Research reveals that stronger motivation leads to increased connectivity between brain regions regulating motivation and motor learning. Rehabilitative training advances motor function recovery by activating the brain's motivation centers.
Researchers are developing a computer-delivered intervention to increase parental motivation and adolescent engagement in diabetes care. The study, targeting urban African American youth, aims to address poor health outcomes related to diabetes management.
A University of Bristol study examined motivational indicators in public and private sector workers across 51 countries. It found that public sector workers tend to be more intrinsically motivated, but corruption levels can affect motivation.
A study published in Psychology & Marketing reveals that identity is a key motivation behind bequest giving, with charities needing to foster a sense of shared values and recognition with their organization.
A new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that parents' attitudes and behavior play a significant role in their child's homework motivation. By having a more positive, supportive attitude and communicating the learning value, parents can improve their child's motivation. The researchers also recommend giving children choi...
A study of Texas women holding concealed handgun licenses reveals they are motivated by feelings of empowerment and a need for self-defense. However, this form of self-defense can also lead to increased vulnerability when unarmed, as their sense of strength and confidence reside in the firearm.
Researchers found that making goal attainment visual provides motivation, even in abstract contexts. Studies showed that participants who could easily visualize their progress were more energized and motivated to reach their goals. The study suggests that visualization can be a powerful tool for increasing motivation and commitment.