Book contents
- Motivational Systems
- Motivational Systems
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Boxes
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Models of Motivation
- 3 Needs, Drives, and Arousal
- 4 Incentive Motivation
- 5 Levels of Control
- 6 Wanting and Liking
- 7 Regulation and Control: From Homeostasis to Emotion Modulation
- 8 Emotions, Moods, and Affect – Their Link to Motivation
- 9 Feeding Motivation
- 10 The Motivation to Drink Water and Ingest Salts
- 11 Sexual Motivation
- 12 Exploratory Motivation
- 13 Fear, Avoidance, and Security
- 14 Aggression
- 15 Pain
- 16 Social Motivation: Belonging, Affiliation, and Attachment
- 17 Drugs and Addiction
- 18 Addictions to Things Other than Drugs
- 19 Summary and Integration
- Glossary
- References
- Index
5 - Levels of Control
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 June 2026
Book contents
- Motivational Systems
- Motivational Systems
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Boxes
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Models of Motivation
- 3 Needs, Drives, and Arousal
- 4 Incentive Motivation
- 5 Levels of Control
- 6 Wanting and Liking
- 7 Regulation and Control: From Homeostasis to Emotion Modulation
- 8 Emotions, Moods, and Affect – Their Link to Motivation
- 9 Feeding Motivation
- 10 The Motivation to Drink Water and Ingest Salts
- 11 Sexual Motivation
- 12 Exploratory Motivation
- 13 Fear, Avoidance, and Security
- 14 Aggression
- 15 Pain
- 16 Social Motivation: Belonging, Affiliation, and Attachment
- 17 Drugs and Addiction
- 18 Addictions to Things Other than Drugs
- 19 Summary and Integration
- Glossary
- References
- Index
Summary
Chapter 5 opens with a comparison between stimulus–response (habit) controls and cognitive controls. It draws a distinction between wanting something and wanting not to want it; for example, a smoker who wants cigarettes (low level, attribution of incentive salience) but wants not to want them (high level, conscious, rational decision-making). Goal direction is associated with the prefrontal cortex and a move to automaticity is associated with a lowering of prefrontal control. The chapter draws a distinction between goal trackers and sign trackers. The discussion then turns to decision-making in humans describing a hot system versus cool system and the role of stress. Examples are given of bottom-up and top-down factors in cooperation or competition (e.g. the marshmallow effect).
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- Information
- Motivational SystemsA Biopsychological Introduction, pp. 66 - 87Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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