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Related Concept Videos

Secondary Motives: Power Motivation and Achievement Motivation01:27

Secondary Motives: Power Motivation and Achievement Motivation

Power motivation and achievement motivation are two essential social motives identified by psychologist David McClelland. These motives influence behavior in various personal and professional contexts, shaping how individuals interact with others and pursue their goals.
Power motivation is characterized by the desire to influence, control, or have an impact on others. It is shaped by an individual's experiences, social environment, and cultural context. People with high power motivation are...
Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

Self-Discrepancy Theory

One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
Drive-Reduction Theory: Push Theory of Motivation01:27

Drive-Reduction Theory: Push Theory of Motivation

Clark Hull's drive-reduction theory, introduced in the 1940s and 1950s and often termed the "push theory" of motivation, provides a framework for understanding how biological and learned drives influence behavior. Hull suggested that motivation originates from the need to alleviate physiological tension caused by unmet biological necessities. The theory proposes that when a basic need, such as hunger or sleep, goes unfulfilled, it creates an internal imbalance. This imbalance, or drive, pushes...
Incentive Theory: Pull Theory of Motivation01:18

Incentive Theory: Pull Theory of Motivation

Incentive theory, or the "pull theory" of motivation, suggests that external rewards primarily drive behavior. Individuals are motivated to engage in activities when they anticipate a desirable outcome. This is why people often work hard for promotions or study intensively to achieve high grades. These incentives can be tangible, physical rewards such as money or promotions, or intangible, non-physical rewards like praise and social recognition.
The theory differentiates between intrinsic and...
Humanistic Psychology01:24

Humanistic Psychology

Humanistic psychology emerged in the mid-20th century as a response to the deterministic and pessimistic nature of behaviorism and psychoanalysis. While behaviorism focused on observable behaviors influenced by the environment and psychoanalysis delved into unconscious motivations, both theories suggested that human actions lacked free will. In contrast, humanistic psychology offers a perspective that emphasizes the innate potential for goodness and growth within every individual.
This approach...
Motivational Cycle01:20

Motivational Cycle

The motivational cycle is a key concept that explains how individuals are motivated to meet their needs. At its core, the cycle revolves around four distinct stages: need, drive, goal-directed behavior, and goal achievement. These stages respond to imbalances in the body or mind, prompting actions that restore balance.
The cycle begins with a need. This need can arise from various conditions, such as hunger, thirst, or temperature changes. For instance, when an individual feels cold, their body...

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Individualistic powerfulness and collectivistic powerlessness corrupts: how power and cultural orientation influence corruption.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal
06:45

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal

Published on: April 18, 2017

Power and goal pursuit.

Ana Guinote1

  • 1University of Kent, UK.

Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|June 19, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Powerful individuals achieve goals more effectively due to enhanced self-regulation. This study reveals how power influences goal pursuit across various stages, improving performance.

Area of Science:

  • Social Psychology
  • Behavioral Science
  • Organizational Psychology

Background:

  • Power dynamics significantly influence individual behavior and goal attainment.
  • Self-regulation is a key psychological mechanism underlying goal pursuit.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the multifaceted effects of power on self-regulation across different phases of goal pursuit.
  • To determine if power's influence on goal-consistent behavior is independent of implementation intentions.

Main Methods:

  • The study employed a series of four experiments analyzing goal setting, action initiation, persistence, flexibility, and responses to opportunities.
  • Implementation intentions were examined as a potential moderator of power's effects.

Main Results:

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Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal
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Published on: April 18, 2017

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  • Across all phases of goal pursuit, power consistently facilitated prioritization and goal-consistent actions.
  • The facilitative effects of power on goal pursuit were observed independently of implementation intentions.

Conclusions:

  • Power enhances an individual's capacity for self-regulation, leading to more effective goal pursuit.
  • Understanding the role of power in self-regulation offers insights into performance outcomes in various contexts.