Neonatal behavior as biologically motivated behavior

Objetivos: Discutir la posibilidad de que el comportamiento neonatal puede ser entendido como un comportamiento biológicamente motivado. Hipótesis: los recién nacidos humanos presentan un repertorio de conducta que corresponde a la evolución filogenética y a la adaptación de la especie humana a las circunstancias ambientales. Método: El repertorio del comportamiento del recién nacido humano se discute en base de la evaluación neuroconductual de los bebés en los primeros momentos de la vida extra-uterina, es decir, la escala de Brazelton (Escala de Evaluación del Comportamiento Neonatal) por T. Berry Brazelton. Esta descripción se articula con varios aspectos de la experiencia humana: a) adecuación a la supervivencia después del nacimiento; b) la secuencia de comportamiento prenatal a un comportamiento postnatal, c) la similitud entre el sueño prenatal / estados despierto y dormir postnatal / estados despierto y d) la competencia del comportamiento postnatal como resultado de la formación prenatal (el rendimiento de comportamiento prenatal como un ejercicio hacia la mejora de la el rendimiento de comportamiento posnatal). Conclusión: La articulación anteriormente descrita se utiliza para iluminar a las futuras investigaciones en los campos de la conducta y el comportamiento neonatal prenatal. También se utilizará para profundizar las posibilidades de las intervenciones psicológicas basadas en las presentaciones que se ofrecen a las madres, padres o familias hora de evaluar el comportamiento de los recién nacidos (manifestaciones Brazelton).Objectives: To discuss the possibility that neonatal behavior can be understood as biologically motivated behavior. Hypothesis: Human newborns present a behavioral repertoire which corresponds to the phylogenetic evolution and adaptation of the human species to environmental circumstances. Method: The behavioral repertoire of the human newborn is discussed at the light of the neurobehavioral evaluation of babies at the first moments of extra-uterine life, namely the NBAS (Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale) by T. Berry Brazelton. This description is articulated with several aspects of human experience: a) adequacy for survival after birth; b) sequence from prenatal behavior to postnatal behavior, c) similarity between prenatal sleep/awake states and postnatal sleep/awake states and d) postnatal behavioral competence as a result of prenatal training (the performance of prenatal behavior as an exercise towards the enhancement of postnatal behavioral performance). Conclusion: The articulation above described will be used to enlighten future research in the fields of neonatal behavior and prenatal behavior. It will also be used to deepen possibilities of psychological interventions based at presentations offered to mothers, fathers or families when assessing newborns’ behavior (Brazelton demonstrations).peerReviewe

A theoretical model of projects in motivated behavior

This article introduces a theoretical model of projects in motivated behavior. It begins with the discussion of two theoretical traditions that conceived a project as either an anticipation of action or a set of actions aimed at the same goals. The limitations of both traditions are discussed, and a project is then conceived as an integration of internal processes and actions. Next, a theoretical model of projects is presented, comprising cognitive, motivational, volitional, emotional, and behavioral components. A framework interrelating the different components of the model is presented. Considering the framework introduced, a project is then defined as a process comprising the formation, enactment, and maintenance of intentional structures and actions. The definition is comprehensive because it integrates both the previous theoretical traditions of the project in order to overcome the limitations of both. The applications of the new approach in existential theories and management sciences are discussed

Color in context: psychological context moderates the influence of red on approach- and avoidance-motivated behavior.

A basic premise of the recently proffered color-in-context model is that the influence of color on psychological functioning varies as a function of the psychological context in which color is perceived. Some research has examined the appetitive and aversive implications of viewing the color red in romance- and achievement-relevant contexts, respectively, but in all existing empirical work approach and avoidance behavior has been studied in separate tasks and separate experiments. Research is needed to directly test whether red influences the same behavior differently depending entirely on psychological context. The present experiment was designed to put this premise to direct test in romance- and achievement-relevant contexts within the same experimental paradigm involving walking behavior. Our results revealed that exposure to red (but not blue) indeed has differential implications for walking behavior as a function of the context in which the color is perceived. Red increased the speed with which participants walked to an ostensible interview about dating (a romance-relevant context), but decreased the speed with which they walked to an ostensible interview about intelligence (an achievement-relevant context). These results are the first direct evidence that the influence of red on psychological functioning in humans varies by psychological context. Our findings contribute to both the literature on color psychology and the broader, emerging literature on the influence of context on basic psychological processes

A study of income-motivated behavior among general practitioners in the Norwegian list patient system

In the Norwegian capitation system each general practitioner (GP) has a personal list of patients. The payment system is a mix of a capitation fee and fee-for-service. From a model of a GP’s decisions we derive the optimal practice profile contingent on whether a GP experiences a shortage of patients or not. We also find the conditions for whether a GP, who experiences a shortage of patients, is likely to increase the number of services he provides to his patients. Data give us the opportunity to reveal patient shortage, i.e. a positive difference between a GP’s preferred and actual list size, at the individual practice level. From the analysis of 2587 Norwegian GPs (out of a total 3650) the main result is that patient shortage has a positive effect on a GP’s intensity of service provision and hence, on the income per listed person. We also find that a GP’s income per listed person is influenced by the composition of the list according to indicators of need for services, and of accessibility according to the GP density in the municipality. These results are also valid when possible selection bias is accounted for, although the magnitude of the effects is then smaller.economic motives; capitation; general practice; patient shortage; service provision

From primed construct to motivated behavior: validation processes in goal pursuit

When posting or re-using the article, you should provide a link/URL from the article posted to the SAGE Journals Online site where the article is published: http://online.sagepub.com and please make the following acknowledgment: "The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in , Vol/Issue, Month/Year by SAGE Publications Ltd, All rights reserved. © [The Author(s)]"Past research has found that primes can automatically initiate unconscious goal striving. Recent models of priming have suggested that this effect can be moderated by validation processes. According to a goal-validation perspective, primes should cause changes in one’s motivational state to the extent people have confidence in the prime-related mental content. Across three experiments, we provided the first direct empirical evidence for this goal-validation account. Using a variety of goal priming manipulations (cooperation vs. competition, achievement, and self-improvement vs. saving money) and validity inductions (power, ease, and writing about confidence), we demonstrated that the impact of goal primes on behavior occurs to a greater extent when conditions foster confidence (vs. doubt) in mental contents. Indeed, when conditions foster doubt, goal priming effects are eliminated or counter to the implications of the prime. The implications of these findings for research on goal priming and validation processes are discussed.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was supported in part by NSF Grant BCS-0847834 (to R.E.P.) and by Spanish grant PSI2011-26212 (to P.B.)

Development and Validation of an Inventory that Measures Motivated Behavior in Chemistry

The purpose of this study was to develop an inventory that measures students’ motivation toward chemistry (MBIC). In total, 127 students from Technological University of the Philippines were asked to respond to the inventory. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation yielded four factors namely, choice behavior, persistent behavior, study approaches and strategies and resilient behavior. The factor loadings of the items ranged from 0.426 to 0.718, 0.513 to 0.820, 0.457 to 0.718, and 0.441 to 0.621, respectively. The Cronbach alpha for the entire inventory was 0.90; for each scale, alpha ranged from 0.74 to 0.84. High motivators and low motivators showed a significant difference (p <0.01) on their MBIC scores. Correlations between the students’ motivation in chemistry measured using MBIC and students’ achievement in chemistry, cheating behavior and students’ motivation in English are moderate to weak but they are all statistically significant. Findings of the study confirmed the validity and reliability of the MBIC questionnaire. Implications for using the MBIC in research and in class are discussed in the paper. Keywords: Principal component analysis, varimax rotation, cronbach’s alpha, Chemistry achievement, English Motivation, Cheating Behavior, Motivated Behavior Inventor