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Basic Motivation and Human Behaviour pp 133–168Cite as

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The Self-expression Motivational System

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Abstract

The main aim of this chapter is to introduce and promote the concept of self-expression as a basic motivation. Considering that the amount of literature on self-expression, matched with the concepts of control and affiliation, is practically non-existent, the chapter starts by attempting to provide a viable definition of self-expression motivation. Furthermore, the concept of art as a domain in which the underlying tendency for self-expression is clearly manifested is also considered. The chapter also includes a literature review to show whether or not self-expression motivation is able to fulfil the criteria suggested by Baumeister and Leary (Psychological Bulletin, 117, 497–529, 1995). The chapter concludes with a summary of the arguments and suggests that self-expression is indeed worthy of consideration as a basic motivational concept.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway

    Velibor Bobo Kovač

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  1. Velibor Bobo Kovač
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Kovač, V.B. (2016). The Self-expression Motivational System. In: Basic Motivation and Human Behaviour. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-47056-0_5

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