[Maximization of pleasure, the answer to a conflict of motivations]

An experiment has been set up to explore the hypothesis according to which behaviour is determined by the trend to maximize pleasure. Twelve subjects were placed individually in a situation of conflict where the pleasure of playing a videogame clashed with the increasing discomfort of a cold environment. The time lapse tolerated could be predicted from the algebraic sum of the rating of displeasure aroused by the cold environment and the rating of pleasure aroused by the videogame, obtained in other sessions. This result supports the working hypothesis and allows to conclude that pleasure is the common currency of tradeoffs among various motivations.