Volition and personality: functional analysis of self-regulation

Abstract

Experimental and self-report methods for the assessment of various functional components of self-regulation are described; The focus is on volitional processes that relate to personality and motivational phenomena(e. g., goal pursuit, intention memory, volitional inhibition, delay of gratification, self-awareness, self-determination, alienation, external control). The results are consistent with a theory of volitional action which postulates dynamic interactions among two pairs of subsystems (i.e;, (1) intention memory and its output system and (2) extension memory and an object perception system). Whether the pathway between the two systems within either pair is inhibited or facilitated, presumably depends upon positive or negative affect, respectively. Empirical evidence supporting these affect volition modulation assumptions is reported.