Elaborating the Theory: Transactional Associations and Added Relations

Abstract

The temporal sequence moving from left to right in Figure 6–4 captures the historical approach to motivation from an attributional perspective. There is a pleasing simplicity to this conception; it is without complication when compared with, say, interactional or transactional theoretical perspectives. Unfortunately, although the theory is uncluttered, motivated behavior is not as neat. For example, it is often the case that postulated relations in the field of motivation have bidirectional cause- effect linkages: Attitudes influence behavior, and behavior affects attitudes; needs influence perception, but perceptions also generate needs; and desires can alter subjective expectancies, just as expectancy can modify desire.

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In which the author finally acknowledges that life is transactional and that any conceptual system must include feedback loops and bidirectional cause-effect linkages. This is a theoretical nuisance.