ABSTRACT
The why and whither of human behavior is one of psychology’s concerns of old: What is it that gets us moving and keeps us going? Is that cause located “within” the person, or is it to be found in the “external” environment, or are both person and situation always involved? Why do we sometimes feel ourselves “driven” to do something, while at other times our attention is, as it were, “drawn” to an event, possibly one that has not yet taken place? What is the explanation for the fact that part of our behavior—and we often only realize this afterwards—occurs almost without particular thought, as if it were automated? Why is it that a backlog in work challenges some people to work harder to catch up, whereas it makes others feel blocked? How come one individual is always looking for risks, whereas another person prefers life to be ordered and predictable at work and at home? Is it that people are primarily motivated by long-term views and plans, much as a chief executive officer presents the company’s objectives for the next year relative to the results achieved in the preceding fiscal year? Or is the audience more sensitive to the commitment and trust he or she radiates in outlining the mission? Is motivation perhaps affected more by the frequency with which the results of individual performance behavior are monitored in relation to goals set?
