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Related Concept Videos

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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 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

Distinguishing regulatory variables and ecological affordances: Prioritizing goals versus implementing action.

Edgar Dubourg1, Nicolas Baumard1

  • 1Institut Jean Nicod, Département d'études cognitives, Ecole normale supérieure, Université PSL, EHESS, CNRS, Paris, France edgar.dubourg@gmail.com nbaumard@gmail.com https://www.edgardubourg.fr https://nicolasbaumard.org.

The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|June 2, 2026
PubMed
Summary

This study clarifies a framework by distinguishing regulatory variables, which guide motivation, from affordances, which enable actions. This distinction enhances understanding of motivational salience and action possibilities.

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Area of Science:

  • Decision-making and cognitive neuroscience.
  • Behavioral economics and motivation theory.

Background:

  • Existing frameworks for understanding motivation and action selection.
  • The role of internal states and external cues in guiding behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To refine a theoretical framework for motivation and action.
  • To differentiate between regulatory variables and affordances in decision-making.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis and theoretical refinement.
  • Distinguishing between different types of input influencing behavior.

Main Results:

  • Identification of two distinct input categories: regulatory variables and affordances.
  • Clarification of how motivational salience is calibrated by regulatory variables.
  • Explanation of how affordances become relevant only after motivation is engaged.

Conclusions:

  • The proposed distinction offers a clearer understanding of motivational processes.
  • Regulatory variables and affordances play sequential and distinct roles in action selection.
  • This refined framework can enhance models of goal-directed behavior.