Course description
From self-help books to the latest task-tracking application, it can seem as though ample motivation is all that stands in the way of life's successes. But is it really that simple? In this course, we explore this dilemma and more by diving into the major theories of motivation and self-regulation. Taking an empirical approach, we explore how we set goals, effortfully pursue them, resist temptations, break bad habits, and develop new ones. However, this is not the whole story. In the second half of the course, we examine key drawbacks and limitations of human motivation, such as whether it is possible to have too much motivation, what happens when we give up on our goals, and the role of self-regulation in psychopathology. This course outlines the development, interrelations, and contradictions of the different approaches to understanding motivation and self-regulation, ultimately challenging and refining our understandings of human agency, self-directed behavior, and beyond.
