Articles tagged with Motivation
A new study by Hebrew University researcher Ran Hassin reveals that our unconscious mind quickly registers faces associated with power and potential threat, while ignoring those deemed trustworthy. The findings have implications for understanding mental disorders such as autism and PTSD.
Research suggests that people's daily frustration with life can lead to recurring nightmares, where they experience falling, failing, or being attacked in their dreams. The study found that those whose psychological needs were not met reported more negative dream themes and struggled to interpret their dreams positively.
Research at National Research University Higher School of Economics found that international students with internal motivation and autonomy experience less culture shock and higher subjective well-being. Conversely, those driven by external factors struggle to adapt. The study's findings can inform preparation strategies for students s...
Researchers found that perceived risk of a romantic relationship ending influences the intensity of love and commitment, leading to reduced feelings when facing high or low risks. Commitment is strongest when there's only a moderate chance of break-up.
Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the neural basis of team-related altruism in soccer fans. The study found that brain areas involved in decision-making and values, such as the medial orbitofrontal cortex, showed increased activity when donations were targeted to fans of the same soccer club.
A study by Brigham Young University researchers found that 90% of users reported increased motivation and confidence using mental and emotional health apps. The app-based interventions promote behavior change and can be an inexpensive way to increase self-efficacy for mental health.
Brain stimulation reveals that fronto-striatal circuits are essential for enjoying music. Researchers used TMS to manipulate these circuits, increasing or decreasing participants' liking of music and motivation to listen again.
Researchers identified 71 low-value general surgical procedures, with the highest impact interventions including inguinal hernia repair and routine endoscopy in asymptomatic patients. Experts emphasize the importance of maximizing patient care value through precise treatments and challenging existing dogma that 'more is better'.
Researchers analyzed over 1.7 million text files shared on websites hosting doxed files, revealing that 32% of victims closed or changed Instagram account settings and 25% adjusted Facebook settings after an attack. New abuse filters on Facebook and Instagram were effective in reducing harm.
A new study published in Psychological Science finds that individuals motivated to develop the best in themselves and others tend to reason wisely about their own personal problems. The research highlights two key components of wise reasoning: considering other people's perspectives and intellectual humility.
Participants rated positive images as smoother and less choppy than neutral and negative images, even when fading at the same rate. The emotional content of the images affected how people experienced time, with higher approach motivation leading to smoother perceptions.
A study by Cornell University psychologist Amy Krosch found that when resources are scarce, prejudiced individuals discriminate more against black recipients than white recipients. Egalitarian participants, on the other hand, tend to give more funding to protect racial minority group members.
Researchers suggest that understanding the root cause of fan violence could lead to positive outcomes and even reduce extremism. By harnessing motivations such as loyalty and belonging, football fans can be encouraged to channel their energy into pro-social activities.
Researchers gathered data from over 16,000 students and found no evidence that motivation decreased despite prolonged effort on a single task. Instead, motivation increased as new tasks were completed, suggesting that self-control may be stable throughout the day.
Researchers monitored students' success in a 17-week online program, finding that time of day had little effect on task completion, contradicting the theory of finite self-control. Students' performance on specific tasks declined after about an hour, regardless of when they started.
A QUT world-first study found that informal sperm donors are motivated by factors such as family, friends, and personal characteristics, with little impact from perceived risks. Donors who have previously used clinical settings also tend to donate more and generate more offspring in the informal market.
A new study by Ohio State University researchers found that people who rely on concrete evidence to form their beliefs are less likely to have misperceptions about high-profile scientific and political issues. On the other hand, those who trust their intuition over evidence are more likely to believe fake news.
A new study found that citizen science volunteers are mainly motivated by a desire to learn and enhance their scientific knowledge. The research, led by the University of Portsmouth, surveyed 2000 online volunteers and discovered that this motivation was the number one driver for participation.
A recent study published in Body Image found that the attractiveness of a husband can motivate women to diet and seek a slim body, even if they are not particularly attractive themselves. The research highlights the importance of understanding social factors influencing disordered eating behaviors among women.
Low-income students report that reciprocal peer relationships, teachers who care, and family assets contribute to their academic success. The study's findings can inform program design to support students at risk of failure due to poverty.
A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that female footballers raised with non-traditional values and role models exhibit greater fighting spirit and pleasure in the game, leading to improved performance. This suggests that upbringing plays a significant role in shaping the desire to succeed in sports.
A new study finds that both active and inactive women report similar ingredients for feeling happy and successful, including connecting with others, being relaxed during leisure time, and accomplishing goals. However, inactive women's negative expectations about exercise hinder their ability to adopt and sustain physically active lives.
A field study in Malawi reveals that intrinsic excitement about learning is a stronger predictor of school attendance than extrinsic motivation. Stimulating girls' sense of competence and autonomy may be as effective as economic approaches in achieving behavioral change.
Researchers found that consumers prioritize taste and quality over animal welfare concerns when purchasing free-range eggs. The study suggests that consumers view better welfare as connected to a better quality product, leading to higher prices being paid for these products.
A comparative cross-cultural study found that Russians tend to express happiness openly with friends but hide it when interacting with strangers or government officials. Unlike Americans, who hold back positive emotions only when facing issues, Russians view happiness expression as a normal behavior.
A study found that paying users to write product reviews suppresses the number of reviews on social platforms, especially among those who are socially well-connected. The authors argue that this approach undermines the intrinsic motivation for honest reviews and increases the likelihood of fake reviews.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a method to create personalized mental and physical therapy regimens using gaming features. Gamified applications with scoring systems, avatars, and in-game rewards led to significantly fewer mistakes and higher performance than non-gamified applications.
New research from Michigan State University suggests that a boss's mindset can significantly impact employee motivation. Studies found that leaders with a regulatory focus, or mindset, can adapt their behavior to elicit specific mindsets in employees, whether it's innovation or a more conservative work focus.
A new study suggests that employees who believe their different work identities enhance each other are more productive, while those in conflict see a hit to their performance. The research found that employees who think their roles complement each other have better sales and intrinsic motivation.
Veterinarians often use a directive style, which can limit client emotional connection and motivation. Research suggests that an evidence-based, mutually-driven approach can improve uptake of veterinary recommendations.
Researchers discovered that motivation shifts from promotion to prevention as people make progress toward their goals. This shift can be leveraged to improve goal-attainment by focusing on avoidance strategies rather than positive aspects.
A new study suggests that generic sexual health messages are insufficient for young female tourists, as their motivations and perceptions of risk vary greatly. The research identified five clusters of sexual risk-takers, each with unique characteristics and needs, highlighting the need for targeted and tailored health messages.
A new study published in Marketing Science found that combining large price discounts with donations to charity can actually reduce sales, as consumers' self-image motivation outweighs their intrinsic motivation to support the charity. The study's authors suggest that marketers should proceed with caution when using these techniques.
A new study from Southern Methodist University found that a self-persuasion app on an iPad motivated low-income parents to vaccinate their teens against human papillomavirus, a cancer-causing virus. The app used audio prompts and guided parents in thinking through the importance of vaccination.
A new study in mice reveals that serotonin affects motivation, but only when animals are exploring their environment. Increasing serotonin levels transiently reduces locomotive speed, while long-term stimulation triggers a second effect leading to increased global activity.
Researchers explore how educated individuals resist scientific messages by cherry-picking information to support their beliefs. To change minds, it's essential to understand underlying motivations and tailor messages that align with these roots.
Young people perceive themselves as solely responsible for maintaining their work ability, with employers having a large responsibility to create good working conditions. This perception can lead to low expectations and negative impacts on work ability.
A new approach, SystemChange, focuses on manipulating environments to change habits without relying on individual motivation. This approach has proven effective in reducing screen time, improving sleep, and developing healthy eating and exercise habits.
A new study by psychologist Tomas Jungert found that warm student-teacher relationships are linked to intrinsic motivation, which drives students to defend victims of bullying. In contrast, conflicted teacher-student relationships are associated with extrinsic motivation, leading students to remain bystanders or side with bullies.
A recent study published in Neuron found that hunger is a strong motivational force that can curb rival drives states like thirst, anxiety, and social needs. In the presence of food, activated neurons mimic the state of hunger, suppressing competing systems and guiding motivated behavior.
A new study by University College London found that smoking cannabis makes people less willing to work for money in the short term. The researchers tested motivation levels in volunteers and cannabis addicts, finding no difference between the two groups when not under the influence.
Research found that employees experiencing envy tend to ruminate on social injustice, leading to ego depletion and decreased productivity. High epistemic motivation can contribute to creative output but also exacerbate negative emotions.
Researchers from the University of Missouri found a connection between menopause and decreased physical activity in postmenopausal women. The study suggests that activation of brain receptors may serve as a future treatment to improve motivation for physical activity.
A study found that the novelty factor is a key motivator for e-cigarette use among adolescents, with nearly 70% having heard about e-cigarettes and over 10% using them. E-cigarette use was more common among male respondents who were already using cigarettes and other tobacco products.
A Clemson University psychology professor found that incorporating light physical activity into work or study improves mood, motivation, and morale, while maintaining cognitive performance. The study suggests that sedentary work may not be harmful in the short term, but long-term effects could lead to chronic disease and physical frailty.
A study published in The Open Psychology Journal found a strong correlation between motivation to work and attraction to leisure. Researchers discovered three distinct groupings of individuals based on their strongest motivational factors, suggesting that the 'work hard, play hard' motivation could serve an evolutionary purpose.
A new study found that exercise can help alleviate symptoms of ADHD in adults, including reduced anxiety and depression. The study tested 32 young men with elevated ADHD symptoms and found that a single bout of exercise improved their mood and motivation.
A study published in Frontiers in Physiology found that accentuated eccentric loading training can lead to greater strength gains compared to traditional isoinertial loads. After five weeks, experienced strength-trainers showed improvements in force production, work capacity, and muscle activation.
A new study suggests that helping coworkers can be draining for employees, especially those with high pro-social motivation. Employees should exercise caution when agreeing to help and consider the magnitude of the issue before seeking assistance.
A new study published in Motivation and Emotion found that individuals high in mind-reading motivation exhibit better teamwork, have nuanced understandings of others, and are drawn to messages from identifiable sources. This construct, developed by Melanie Green and colleagues, has implications for advertising and relationships.
Research from Washington University in St. Louis found that electronic monitoring significantly increased hand-hygiene compliance among healthcare workers. However, compliance rates dropped when monitoring was stopped, highlighting the need for a broader strategy to sustain improvement.
A CU-Boulder study found that daily monetary incentives increased fruit and vegetable consumption among participants. Internal motivation to eat such produce also increased over time, suggesting a potential direction for future incentive research in terms of psychological factors related to changing behavior.
Researchers found that award programs may crowd out intrinsic motivation in employees who are already performing well, leading to decreased motivation and productivity. The study suggests that firms should carefully consider the potential costs of implementing such programs.
A study in mice reveals a specific brain region, the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial hypothalamus, is responsible for aggressive motivations that lead to violence. The research suggests targeting this region could lead to better control of aggressive behaviors without sedation.
New research reveals that empathy is composed of two forms: cognitive (understanding) and affective (feeling). When partners have accurate knowledge but lack compassionate feelings, they tend to be less supportive. However, when both accuracy and concern are present, responsiveness increases.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a new brain imaging strategy that allows people to control their motivational centers, leading to healthier and more productive lives. By using neurofeedback, participants were able to learn which strategies worked and adopt more effective ones.
A new study shows that large companies in developed countries prioritize social acceptance over profit maximization in their sustainability management activities. Legitimacy-oriented measures, such as improving employee motivation and reputation, are more important than profit-driven tools like eco-efficiency analyses.
A recent study published in the Journal of Intercollegiate Sport found that varsity athletes with high obsessive passion towards their sport are more likely to accept the use of performance-enhancing drugs. In contrast, athletes with high harmonious passion tend to have conservative attitudes towards PEDs.
A TSRI study reveals that a specific endocannabinoid called 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) acts as a molecular switch to increase motivation to consume nicotine. By blocking its production, compounds like 1,2,3-triazole urea inhibitors may restore the brain's balance and reduce nicotine's effects.
A new study from UTA explores the motivations behind adult learners' decision to pursue an engineering degree. Adult learners aged 25 and older are driven by perceived prestige and high career goals, including graduate school or internships. The study offers recommendations for campus policies and practices to support these students.