Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026

Virtual Agent for Real-Time Motivational Interviewing by Integrating Adaptive Nonverbal Behavior and Language Models
Published on: December 23, 2025
The Motive for Support and the Identification of Responsive Partners
Bulent Turan1, Leonard M Horowitz
1Department of Psychology, Stanford University.
None:
To obtain support from others, a person must first identify responsive partners. One strategy for doing so is to use indicators of responsive partners. We argue that a person with a strong motive for support should rate all indicators highly useful-the "Elevated Motives Effect." Study 1 confirmed this hypothesis by correlating participants' total ratings with existing measures of motive-strength. Study 2 applied the Elevated Motives Effect to demonstrate that motive-strength (in interaction with knowledge of indicators) predicts performance on a laboratory task in which participants evaluated a person: Superior knowledge led to superior performance only when motive-strength was high. Study 3, an experience-sampling study, showed that in everyday life, motivated people more often seek support from others when distressed.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Factors Influencing Attraction IV: Reciprocity
Motivational Cycle
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...
Egoism and Altruism
Persuasion Strategies
Ryan and Deci's Self-Determination Theory
Autonomy is the need to feel in control of one's actions and decisions. For example, a student who chooses their research topic is likely to be more engaged and motivated than one who...
Relationship Formation

