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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Investigating Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior using a Robotic Arm-Reaching Paradigm
Published on: October 3, 2020
Approach and avoidance motivation in the social domain
Andrew J Elliot1, Shelly L Gable, Rachael R Mapes
1Department of Psychology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA. andye@prodigal.psych.rochester.edu
Abstract:
This research put Gable's (in press) hierarchical model of approach-avoidance social motivation to empirical test using newly developed measures of friendship-approach and avoidance goals. The results from Study 1 supported the psychometric soundness of the new goal measures and showed the anticipated differential predictive patterns for the two goals. The results from Study 2 provided further evidence of the psychometric soundness of the new goal measures and provided support for the full hierarchical model in longitudinal analyses of subjective well-being and physical symptomotology. Implications of the present research for understanding motivation both within and beyond the social domain are discussed.
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