Action tendency

Psychological urge to act in a particular manner

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Action tendency is a psychological term in behavioral science which refers to an individual's urge to carry out a particular behavior, particularly as a component of emotion. In behavioral science, an individual's emotions direct their response to current circumstances or relationships; thus, the action tendency, as a constituent factor of the individual's overall emotional response, is a temporary and immediate impulse.[1][2]

## Cognitive Scope

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Action tendency is the motivational component of emotional decision making which is responsible for the preparation and direction of motor responses. Under the emotional framework, motivation can be thought of as the state of readiness to engage in a certain action with the goal of achieving a desired result.[3] The action tendency is distinct from cognitive, physiological, and expressive components, which likewise determine an individual's behavior.[4][5][6]

Because action tendency is, essentially, an immediate suggestion for a response in a particular set of circumstances, it is informed by an individual's set of preferences at the current point in time, which are supplied elsewhere within the emotion. Action tendency, therefore, changes as an individual moves between emotional states, and is modified by the individual's present cognitive and physiological abilities.[7][2]

## Conditioning

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Several theories and experiments support the notion that action tendencies can be primed to produce a desired result before the onset of emotion. In 2010, an experiment which trained addicts to either approach or avoid alcohol found that the subjects' action tendency towards alcohol was positively affected in accordance with the training condition.[8]

Perceived action tendency may also play a role in social conditioning and self-esteem which is observable at an early developmental stage. In 1979, experimental data demonstrated that children who self-reported more frequent tendencies towards assertiveness and aggression experienced poor self-image and negative social stigma. These findings suggest that the observation of behavioral tendencies by oneself or others plays a significant role in the construction of identity.[9]

## See also

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* Determination

## References

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1. ^ Weiner, Bernard (1974). Cognitive Views of Human Motivation. Elsevier Science. pp. 75–76. ISBN 0127419500. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
2. ^ a b Frijda, Nico H. (1987). "L. Linnenbrink-Garcia". Cognition and Emotion. 1 (2): 115–143. doi:10.1080/02699938708408043. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
3. ^ Frijda 1987, p. 70.
4. ^ Scherer, Klaus R. (December 2005). "What are emotions? And how can they be measured?". Social Science Information. 44 (4): 695–729. doi:10.1177/0539018405058216. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
5. ^ Shuman, V.; Scherer, K.R. (2014). "Concepts and structures of emotions". International handbook of emotions in education. New York: Routledge. pp. 13–35.
6. ^ Gartmeier, Martin; Hascher, Tina (2016). "Emotions in Learning with Video Cases". Emotions, Technology, and Learning. Elsevier Science. pp. 121–122. ISBN 978-0-12-800649-8. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
7. ^ Posner, Eric (2001). "Law and the Emotions". Georgetown Law Journal. 89. University of Chicago: 1977–2012. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
8. ^ Wiers, Reinout W.; Rinck, Mike; Kordts, Robert; Houben, Katrijn; Strack, Fritz (February 2010). "Retraining automatic action-tendencies to approach alcohol in hazardous drinkers". Addiction. 105 (2): 279–287. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02775.x. PMID 20078486. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
9. ^ Deluty, Robert H. (1979). "Children's Action Tendency Scale: A self-report measure of aggressiveness, assertiveness, and submissiveness in children". Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 47 (6): 1061–1071. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.47.6.1061. Retrieved 5 August 2024.

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