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Published on: October 28, 2020
Self-organization of power at will
1Department of History and Philosophy of Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University Campus, Ano Ilisia, Athens15771, Greece. etzafestas@phs.uoa.gr; http://en.phs.uoa.gr/faculty-and-staff/faculty/elpida-tzafestas.html.
This study proposes a self-organizational view of willpower, challenging traditional dual-function models. It suggests willpower emerges from dynamic interactions within the motivational system, influenced by environment and personality.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Economics
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Traditional models view willpower as resolve and suppression.
- These top-down perspectives offer limited insight into motivational dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To challenge and extend existing theories of willpower.
- To propose a novel self-organizational framework for the motivational system.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of willpower.
- Theoretical modeling of motivational systems as dynamic networks.
Main Results:
- Willpower functions like resolve and suppression emerge dynamically.
- These functions are contingent upon environmental and social factors.
- Personality profiles influence the emergence of willpower functions.
Conclusions:
- The self-organizational view provides a more comprehensive understanding of willpower.
- Motivational systems are complex, interactive networks, not simple dual functions.
- Future research should explore the interplay of environment, personality, and emergent willpower.
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