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The Expression of Achievement Motives in Interpersonal Problems
Author(s) -
Conroy David E.,
Elliot Andrew J.,
Pincus Aaron L.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of personality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.082
H-Index - 144
eISSN - 1467-6494
pISSN - 0022-3506
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2008.00556.x
Subject(s) - psychology , shame , pride , interpersonal communication , social psychology , interpersonal relationship , need for achievement , academic achievement , distress , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , political science , law
Achievement motivation influences self‐regulatory strategies, affective processes, and achievement outcomes, but little is known about how individual differences in achievement motivation influence interpersonal behavior. Different forms of achievement motivation are likely to influence interpersonal behavior because achievement motives are grounded in social emotions. Two studies were conducted to examine relations between achievement motives and dispositional interpersonal problems. These studies linked deficits in pride‐based need for achievement with self‐reported submission‐related interpersonal problems, and shame‐based fear of failure (FF) with both self‐ and peer‐reported interpersonal distress. The achievement motives were largely not associated with individuals' perceptions of their peers' interpersonal problems. These findings reinforce propositions that FF represents the commingling of achievement and relational concerns and suggest new mechanisms by which achievement motives may influence productivity, social success, and well‐being.