Towards a clinically and empirically sound theory of motivation

摘要

The author outlines a theory of motivation that attempts to integrate psychoanalytic theory with current psychological thinking and research. Emotions and other sensory feeling states are evolved mechanisms for channelling behaviour in directions that foster adaptation. The avoidance of unpleasant states and pursuit of pleasant ones leads to goal-directed mental and behavioural processes, including defences and compromise for- mations. Affects provide flexible motivational mechanism in humans, as they become associated with representations of perceived, feared, wished-for, or otherwise valued states through the interaction of environmental events and highly specific naturally- selected biological proclivities.