Cognition Vs Motivation

By Mostafa RadmardAllameh Tabatabayi UniversitySupervisor: Prof. Saeed Setayeshi

What's the relation between Motivation and Cognitive science?

What's the relation between Motivation and Cognitive science? “There actually is not much in cognitive psychology on

motivation -- cog psych seems somewhat against the idea of motivated influences for some reason.”

“Cognitive Science often does not address motivation, because cognition and representation are assumed to be relatively independent of action”

Models of motivation and cognition often have little intrinsic relationship with each other.

A new research area in Cognitive Science Research has only begun to explore the implications of motivation on

information processing. This link between motivation and cognition is an important area of future research.

Cognition and motivation do not constitute distinct subsystems of psychological processes. Instead, they are aspects of one underlying ontology of interactive systems.

we focus on motivation, which we take to be another under-represented area in the field. motivational states influence cognitive processing in humans.

Goal of this Presentation This Presentation reviews some recent

research on the interface between motivation and cognition and draws out the implications of this work for computational cognitive science.

Motivation Effect on cognitive models of action People’s lack of conscious access to key aspects of

their current motivational state has important implications for cognitive models of action.

While people clearly have representations of desired end-states they would like to achieve, many aspects of the motivational system are not consciously accessible

Motivation Effect on cognitive elements the processes that construct mental

representations are deeply influenced by an individual’s motivational state.

Motivational effect on mixture of implicit and explicit processes different motivational conditions can affect the

relative use of implicit and explicit processes in learning(Arthur B. Markman, W. Todd Maddox, Darrell A. Worthy and Grant C. Baldwin, 2007).

Motivational effect on reasoning and decision making cultural differences in reasoning may be attributed to

motivational factors that differ across cultures(Briley & Wyer, 2002; Hong & Chiu, 2001; Kim & Markman, 2006).

changes in motivational states can alter the choices people make and the processes they use to reach decisions(Higgins et al.,2003; Loewenstein, 1996).

Goals activate sub goals and means Changes in accessibility influence

cognitive performance.

Types of Goals

Goals with positive end states are called approach goals, while goals with negative end states are called avoidance goals.

Types of Goals

Different goals result in different Cognition Approach and avoidance goals are not only distinct

conceptually, but also they likely involve quite different neural structures in humans and other animals (Fanselow 1995, Pickering and Gray 2001). The approach and avoidance systems are separate, because different kinds of actions are appropriate for approaching desired states and avoiding undesired states.

Promotion Vs prevention focus

There is a state of readiness for approach called a promotion focus, and a state of readiness for avoidance called a prevention focus. Individuals with a promotion focus are sensitive to potential gains in the environment. In contrast, individuals with a prevention focus are sensitive to potential losses in the environment.

The goal leads to the focus

situations may induce a regulatory focus. In particular, when people are pursuing a particular approach goal, they often have an active promotion focus. Similarly, when people are pursuing an avoidance goal, they often have an active prevention focus.

Focus Point affect level of cognitive process Positive characteristics of a product are easier to

process for people with a promotion focus than for people with a prevention focus, while the reverse is true for people with a prevention focus.

Regulatory Fit

When one’s Focus matches the reward structure of the task

Regulatory Fit affects Mental representation and cognitive processes.

Regulatory Fit

Regulatory Fit between the situational focus and the reward structure leads to greater cognitive performance in some tasks.

Regulatory fit promotes explicit processing. Participants with a regulatory fit are more likely to use rule-based processes than are participants with a regulatory mismatch.

Regulatory Fit

Unlike adults, nine-year-olds perform better in the promotion condition than in the prevention condition regardless of task reward structure.

There is also evidence that children process gains and losses in the same way and that the tendencies toward risk-seeking or risk-aversion do not develop until adulthood

2 main effects of motivation system on computational models of mind Activation of a goal causes activation of related

concepts. So we know what information would computational systems process.

Approach or Avoidance focus affects the goals’ priorities and cognitive processes to reach the goals

Motivation’s effects on Cognition1. The processes that construct mental representations

are deeply influenced by an individual’s motivational state.

2. Different motivational conditions can affect the relative use of implicit and explicit processes in learning.

3. Cultural differences in reasoning may be attributed to motivational factors that differ across cultures.

4. Changes in motivational states can alter the choices people make and the processes they use to reach decisions.

Motivation’s effects on Cognition5. Goals activate sub goals and means in mind. Changes in

accessibility of the issues influence cognitive performance.6. Approach or Avoidance focus affects the goals’ priorities

and cognitive processes to reach the goals7. Positive characteristics of a product are easier to process

for people with a promotion focus than for people with a prevention focus, while the reverse is true for people with a prevention focus.

8. Regulatory Fit between the situational focus and the reward structure in adults, leads to greater cognitive performance in some tasks.

9. Regulatory fit probably promotes explicit processing.

How would robots act by themselves?

motivational processes are crucial for understanding cognitive processes. Without motivation, people will not act at all (Carver & Scheier, 1998).

behavior changes radically under different motivational circumstances.

Thanks for your attention