Understanding how intrinsic and extrinsic forms of motivation differ helps us plan our activities and stay engaged with tasks at hand. Intrinsic motivation is based on inner values, whilst extrinsic is based on contingent rewards. But how can we harness our internal motivation and how (and when) do extrinsic rewards help (or hinder)? Read on to find more…
Continue reading “Intrinsic motivation and extrinsic rewards”
What make us (and the people we work with) really engage in a task? The promise of ‘Fortune and Glory’? Or maybe ‘Fear and Loathing’? These are all common tools people use to manage their own and others’ motivation and engagement. But, maybe this is all wrong… maybe there is a smarter way… In this post, we look at an alternative perspective,focusing on autonomy, mastery and purpose. Read on to find out more….
Continue reading “Autonomy, mastery and purpose: 3 drivers of motivation.”
Across the country, exam time is coming up – here are some of PsychologyItBetters best posts to help you survive and thrive during this stressful period…. I hope you find them useful!
What predicts performance differences in two people with equal aptitude and prep?
Understanding stress responses
It has been great getting back in the swing of writing for PsychologyItBetter.com again. I’m so excited about the blog posts that we have coming up, I wanted to share in advance! I have already scheduled posts on the importance of professional friendships, why I am going to try and stop telling people I am busy, and the role of ‘Big Tobacco’ in harm reduction. These will be appearing over the next few weeks. (I’ve also got some very exciting news to share soon…. 🙂 ).
Alongside all this I am also planning new posts on the five most important psychology books ever written, the role of self-affirmation and a load more topics. There should can be something for everybody 🙂
I advertise new posts on Facebook and Twitter – but you can quite easily miss these announcements if you’re not looking at these sites around the time the post happens. Fortunately, I have now set things up so you can receive weekly digest of the blogs that have been posted in the last seven days. If you pop your email in the box below and press subscribe, you need never miss a post again 🙂
You can opt out of these emails at any time, and I will never share your email address with other people. I hate spam as much as anyone, so will not be bombarding you with emails!
Whether you choose to sign up or not I do hope you continue to enjoy reading PsychologyItBetter.com as much as I enjoy writing it!
Have a great day!
Dan
So – I have some unexpected book news. In 2016 I co-wrote (with Chris Sterling, and a chapter from Elizabeth Newton) a book called ‘Psychology Squared: 100 concepts you should know‘. It outlines the entire discipline of psychology (well, a good chunk of it), with one concept per page. I had a blast writing it, and in many ways it kick-started this blog. It’s also (if I say so myself!) a great little volume, and one I am very fond of.
Guess what – the book is now available in German! You can check it out here!
You can check out the English version here if you missed it first time around 🙂
I am currently leading a research trial at London South Bank University to compare the effectiveness of two leading quit smoking programmes. If you smoke and are considering quitting it would be great if you could take part!
Both programmes are effective methods of support for people wanting to quit and are run by qualified professionals. Everyone who completes the research side of the program (which involves three short appointments at Elephant and Castle) will be entered into a prize draw to win prizes including gym membership, an ipad and a holiday in the Caribbean.
Apply now: quit@lsbu.ac.uk
You will be asked to see the research team four times. Each visit will last no longer than 5-10 minutes and evening and weekend appointments are available. For the final visit- we will come and see you at your home or workplace if it is easier. You will be entered for the prize draw regardless of whether or not you stay an ex-smoker, as long as all four appointments with the research team have been attended.
We are only recruiting limited numbers for this study, so make sure you don’t miss out. You can find out more by clicking here or by emailing the team at quit@lsbu.ac.uk . Why not take the plunge and do it now?
I had a great interview this week with the folk at Drug Addiciton Now – a great resource of articles, news and views on all aspects of addiction recovery. We were talking about a recent paper myself and colleagues recently had published looking at social support and control processes in group therapy. Do check out their website, and if you are interested, you can find the interview here. If you’d like to read the actual journal article itself, it’s available free / open access at Addictive Behavior Reports here. It’s actually part of a larger special issue the subject of identity and addiction that I recently guest edited with Ian Albery, Tegan Cruwys and Genevieve Dingle.
Hopefully there is something there that will pique your interest!
🙂
Why not do some online research being conducted by some super colleagues at LSBU & Kent? It is a memory task which takes about 20 minutes, and everyone taking part will get a warm fuzz feeling inside – the result of advancing the cause of science.
Also, it’s nearly Xmas, so help these guys out 🙂
For those of that follow this blog regularly, you may wonder where I’ve gone!
No big mystery. Basically, work, life and everything went nuts! In an attempt to maintain some healthy sense of work (meet projects obligations, look after students) and life (be a good partner/father / not be a d*&k when I am home) balance, the blog has had to give a bit this last month. It was that or (i) go off grid and live in the Welsh Mountains like someone from that Ben Fogle show or (ii) leave the children in the woods like some twisted academic fairytale.
Things are looking a bit bonkers still, but there is some light on the horizon. So, we are still currently on hiatus, but I hope to see you again in the New Year. Possibly from an internet cafe in Cardiff when I come down for my monthly supplies.
In the meantime, why not browse some of our old posts? Bet you missed at least one!
🙂
Merry Xmas if I don’t say hi beforehand!
Dan
At this time of year students return to university. This is an exciting time as you get to catch up with last year’s student and see what they been up to over the summer. Of course, we also welcome a new cohort of students to the University and, for many of them, help them get used to a new way of life. For some of these new faces, the transition between their old lifestyle and becoming a student is easy. For others it is more difficult. What causes these differences and what does the study of psychology tell us about situations where our identities don’t really fit together, or are just plain incompatible? Read on to find out.
Continue reading “University students and identity incompatibility”
