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
16 - Social Motivation: Belonging, Affiliation, and Attachment
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
Humans are essentially social creatures, motivated to seek and enjoy human contact. This property is shared with a number of non-human species, a conserved characteristic. Belonging confers essential functional advantages; for example, defence against predators. Attachment is based upon a socially directed motivational system, which provides for flexible behaviour. The chapter describes the attachment theory of Bowlby and Ainsworth, types of attachment and the notion of an internal working model. The theory derived support from imprinting in geese and Harlow’s studies on monkeys. fMRI studies reveal some of the brain bases of attachment. The chapter describes Panksepp’s brain opioid theory of social attachment. Underlying attachment, dopamine and oxytocin interact, exemplified by pair-bonding in the prairie vole. Motivation rooted in aversion is described in the cases of loneliness and social rejection. Could brain opioids help to explain why victims of domestic abuse so often return to their abuser?
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- Motivational SystemsA Biopsychological Introduction, pp. 326 - 341Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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