Motivation and personality: A neuropsychological perspective

Philip Corr, Colin G. DeYoung, Neil McNaughton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

169 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Personality is strongly influenced by motivation systems that organise responses to rewards and punishments and that drive approach and avoidance behavior. Neuropsychological research has identified: (a) two avoidance systems, one related to pure active avoidance and escape, and one to passive avoidance and behavioral inhibition produced by goal-conflict; and (b) two approach systems, one related to the actions of reward seeking and one to experience and behavior related to pleasure on receiving reward. These systems mediate fluid moment-by-moment reactions to changing stimuli, with relatively stable person-specific sensitivities to these stimuli manifested in personality traits. We review what is known about these motivational traits, integrating the theory-driven approach based on animal learning paradigms with the empirical tradition of the Big Five personality model.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)158-175
Number of pages18
JournalSocial and Personality Psychology Compass
Volume7
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2013

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