ABSTRACT
As initially proposed, Atkinson’s (1957, 1964) theory of need achievement (nAch) held that achievement behavior is the result of an emotional conflict between hope of success (HS) and fear of failure (FF). This formulation features an orthogonal, two-dimensional model in which individuals could be placed as not only high or low with respect to a given disposition (either HS or FF), but also could be characterized as driven simultaneously by both excessive hope and fear or, alternatively, could remain indifferent to achievement events as reflected by the relative absence of both hope and fear. Of special importance to Atkinson’s original model was the theme of conflicting tendencies. Common sense as well as the observations of many clinical investigators beginning with Freud suggest that some individuals may be driven to achieve in an attempt to resolve an approach/avoidance dilemma in a favorable direction (Coopersmith, 1967). The notion of conflict remains central to the dynamic theory of action, the most recent refinement of Atkinson’s original model (Atkinson, 1981; Atkinson & Birch, 1974).
