Self-Discrepancy Theory and Human Motivation
I read Higgin's 1998 article entitled Promotion and prevention: Regulatory focus as a motivational principle. The link to that reading is here . The link to the article itself is here . Higgin's contributes to Motivational research by pointing out an important distinction accounting for the mixed results associated with the classic Motivational equation--i.e. that X Motivation = Expectancy of success x the Value of the goal to the person. Worth the read as it will add your understanding of the pleasure vs. pain polarity underlying this key feature of human motivation--i.e. promotion of gain (seeking / approaching pleasure) and/or the prevention of loss (avoidance / pain / risk of harm reduction). This line of research is consilient with attachment theory's emphasis on the regulatory features of different styles of attachment--i.e. secure flexible, anxiety underregulated, avoidant over regulated and disorganized as dysregulated. See for example Calkins, S. D., & Le