Anxiety drive, anxiety habit, and achievement: a theoretical reformulation in terms of optimal motivation1

Hays, Larry W.; Worell, Leonard

doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.1967.tb01421.x

J Personality

1967

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1967.tb01421.x

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Anxiety drive, anxiety habit, and achievement: a theoretical reformulation in terms of optimal motivation1

Larry W. Hays

Leonard Worell

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1967

1972

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Cited by 3 publications

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“…The relatively nonconflicted individual, on the other hand, tends to use the behaviors that he states he prefers. The Conflict Scale (Hays & Worell, 1967), designed to measure this preference-behavior differential, is composed of modified scales from the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule. The present study employed this scale to assess the effects of conflict in the need achievement area on the learning of noncompetitive and competitive paired associates under achievement-oriented conditions.…”

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Motivational properties of personality conflict.

Smith¹

1969

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

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A number of S-R theorists have suggested that conflict induces a drive state, assumed to have energizing properties, over and above the original ones motivating conflict behavior in a given situation. Brown and Farber (1968) have reviewed a number of supportive studies indicating that conflict may result in an energization of ongoing behavior and that escape from conflict is rewarding. A method for assessing personality conflict in a number of need areas has been proposed by Worell and Worell (196S). They assume that conflict is indicated when an individual's stated behavior choices differ from his stated behavior preferences, for he is indicating that competing dispositions are replacing supposedly preferred alternatives. The relatively nonconflicted individual, on the other hand, tends to use the behaviors that he states he prefers. The Conflict Scale (Hays & Worell, 1967), designed to measure this preference-behavior differential, is composed of modified scales from the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule. The present study employed this scale to assess the effects of conflict in the need achievement area on the learning of noncompetitive and competitive paired associates under achievement-oriented conditions. The Ss were male college students divided into highand low-conflict groups, each composed of 14 Ss, on the basis of their Conflict Scale scores. All of the 5s were above the median in achievement preference. The Ss were individually tested on noncompetitive and competitive lists of paired

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confidence: 99%

Motivational properties of personality conflict.

Smith¹

1969

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

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Decision-theoretic aspects of risk-taking behaviour

Pötzsch

1972

Theory Decis

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A crucial problem in economic decision (game) theory is to specify by an algorithm the standards of behaviour which determine the process of decision-making. Recent research has indicated that the attitude to risk is an important argument for finding unique solutions for decision problems. In this study different behaviour-constants of decision-making are reported which clarify that a logical equivalency exists between decision-making, conflict, achievement motive and risk-taking. By using information theoretic arguments as a transform rule, it is suggested to measure risk-preference and risk-aversion in terms of redundancy and related measures.

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Achievement Conflict and Level of Performance

Schill¹,

Boor²

1967

Psychol Rep

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Ss conflicted or nonconflicted in the achievement area, as assessed by Worell and Worell's Personaliry Conflict Scale, were compared on number of arithmetic problems completed in consecutive 2-min. periods. Ss whose scale responses indicated a preference for achievement but the presence of competing behaviors in achievement situations (high conflict) completed significantly fewer arithmetic problems than Ss whose responses indicated nor only high achievement need but also the use of comparable achievement-related behaviors (low conflict). Results were discussed as supporting the use of this scale to measure personality conflict.Recently, Worell and Worell (1965) proposed a novel method for assessing personality conflict. Their approach is to treat conflict as a differential between the total strengths of approach and avoidant tendencies within a set of functionally related behaviors ( o r needs). T o measure this differential, they proposed a scale which consists of a paired-comparison format. Strength of an individual's approach and avoidance in a variety of need areas is measured by modified scales from Edward's Personal Preference Schedule (Edwards, 1954). Scale items are worded in two ways. First, in terms of behavior preference or need, example: "I most prefer . . . ." Preference statements are felt to approximate approach dispositions more closely than actual behaviors. Second, in terms of behavior actually used, example: "I most frequently . . . ." I t is reasoned that avoidance in each need area is reflected in the total number of changes, relative to need, that occur when S is asked to indicate which behaviors he most frequently uses. Worell and Wore11 conceptualize the individual who states that he uses silbstantially fewer behavicrs, more behaviors, or different behaviors, in a need area than he would like to use, as an individual in conflict. In other words, conflict is indicated when an icdividual's behavioral choices (what he most frequently does) differ from his stated preferences (what he most prefers), for he is indicating that competing dispositions are replacing supposedly preferred alternatives. The relatively nonconflicted individual, on the other hand, tends to use the behaviors that he states he prefers. This suggests that the preferred behaviors are dominant and not in confl~ct with other potential alternatives.Previous findings (Worell & Worell, 1965 ) have indicated strong support for the use of this procedure in assessing personality conflict. However, the authors suggest that more accurate behavioral predictions will most likely be -made if one considers a person in conflict (i.e., competing responses in a specific need area) rather than dealing, as they did in their study, with a generally 'The present research was assisted by a special research project allotment from the Graduate School, Southern Illinois University.

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Anxiety drive, anxiety habit, and achievement: a theoretical reformulation in terms of optimal motivation1

Cited by 3 publications

References 30 publications

Motivational properties of personality conflict.

Motivational properties of personality conflict.

Decision-theoretic aspects of risk-taking behaviour

Achievement Conflict and Level of Performance

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