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The history of the concept of motivation
Author(s) -
Cofer Charles N.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of the history of the behavioral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.216
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1520-6696
pISSN - 0022-5061
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6696(198101)17:1<48::aid-jhbs2300170107>3.0.co;2-j
Subject(s) - irrationality , unconscious mind , freudian slip , rationality , psychology , reflexivity , cognition , epistemology , freudian theory , cognitive psychology , cognitive science , philosophy , sociology , psychoanalytic theory , psychoanalysis , social science , neuroscience
Explanations and postulated mechanisms of motivation are traced from Hobbes to current cognitive formulations. Beginning with the hedonic principle, succeeding explanations of motivation have included drive theory, in terms of reflexive properties and in the Freudian notion of unconscious motivation, and current cognitive explanations, which have not yet been fully developed. It is hoped that the repeating cycle from rationality to irrationality and over again can be avoided in future explanations.