29 February 2024

Motivated Perception (and Addiction)

Motivated Perception: Addiction, Research and Resources

Motivated Perception (and Addiction)

All things are subject to interpretation. Whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

Motivated Perception and Addiction

Motivation Perception and Computer / Video Games

Motivation Perception and Gambling

Motivated Perception Research

Motivated Perception
Motivated perception is a psychological concept that refers to the tendency of individuals to perceive information in a way that is influenced by their motivations, goals, beliefs, and emotions. In other words, people's perception of the world is not solely based on objective sensory input but is also shaped by their internal motivations and biases.

Here are some key points about motivated perception:

Subjectivity and Bias: Motivated perception can lead individuals to interpret information in a manner that aligns with their preexisting beliefs or desires, even if the information presented is ambiguous or contradictory. This subjectivity and bias can affect how individuals perceive events, people, and situations.

Confirmation Bias: This is a common example of motivated perception. People tend to seek out and give more weight to information that confirms their existing beliefs while ignoring or downplaying contradictory evidence.

Emotional Influences: Emotions can strongly influence how we perceive and interpret information. For example, if someone is in a positive emotional state, they may perceive a situation more favorably than someone in a negative emotional state.

Goals and Motivations: Individuals' goals and motivations can shape what they pay attention to and how they interpret information. For instance, if someone is motivated to succeed in a particular task, they may perceive feedback as more positive and encouraging than someone who is not motivated to succeed.

Social Identity and Group Affiliation: People's perception can also be influenced by their social identity and group affiliations. They may perceive information in a way that supports their group's values or positions.

Defense Mechanism: In some cases, motivated perception can act as a defense mechanism to protect self-esteem. For example, if someone receives negative feedback, they may downplay it or attribute it to external factors to protect their self-image.

Cognitive Dissonance: When new information contradicts existing beliefs, it can create cognitive dissonance – an uncomfortable mental state. To reduce this discomfort, individuals may reinterpret or ignore the conflicting information.

Understanding motivated perception is crucial because it can lead to biases and distortions in decision-making, interpersonal relationships, and how individuals interact with the world. Being aware of one's own motivated perception and being open to considering different perspectives and evidence is essential for critical thinking and maintaining objectivity." (Source: ChatGPT 2023)

A Comparison of Gambling Motivation Factors between Chinese and Western Casino Players University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Addiction: Motivation, Action Control, and Habits of Pleasure American Psychological Association / APA

Addiction Motivation Reformulated: An Affective Processing Model of Negative Reinforcement American Psychological Association

Analysis of Capability, Motivation and Opportunity to Prevent Substance Abuse in Sensation Seeking Students on the outskirts of a city in Eastern Iran: A Qualitative Study BMC Psychology

Effects of Motivation & Emotion on Perception, Cognition & Behavior Study

Effects Of Video Games On Executive Control, Aggression and Gaming Motivation CSH


Gamblers’ Perceptions of Responsibility for Gambling Harm: A Critical Qualitative Inquiry BMC

How to change Self-Perception in Addiction Recovery New Hope Ranch

Intrinsic Motivation and Psychological Connectedness to Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation: The Perspective of Self-Determination MDPI

Motivation and Self-Regulation in Addiction: A Call for Convergence JSTOR

Motivated Perception and Arousability OSF

Motivated Perception for Self-Regulation: How Visual Experience Serves and is Served by Goals New York University

Motivation and Self-Regulation in Addiction: A Call for Convergence NIH

Motivated Visual Perception: How We See What We Want to See.  Faculty of the Graduate School of Cornell University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Emily E. Balcetis PDF Download

Neurocomputational Mechanisms underlying Motivated Seeing Nature

Perceptual Motivation for Action Springer Link

Promoting positive perceptions of and motivation for research among undergraduate medical students to stimulate future research involvement: a grounded theory study BMC Medical Association

Risk perception in Gambling: A Systematic Review NIC

See What You Want to See: Motivational Influences on Visual Perception ResearchGate

The Dynamics of Motivated Perception: Effects of control and status on the perception of ambivalent stimuli Taylor & Francis Online

The Neural Basis of Addiction: A Pathology of Motivation and Choice Psychiatry Online

The Economics of Motivated Beliefs Cairn

The Role of Gambling Type on Gambling Motives, Cognitive Distortions, and Gambling Severity in Gamblers Recruited Online Plos One

Theories of Motivation and Addictive Behavior PDF Download Institute for Motivation and Change

Visual Perception affected by Motivation and Alertness controlled by a Noninvasive Brain-Computer Interface Plos One

We See What We Want to See. How our Motivations influence our Perception Medium

What Motivates Gambling Behavior? Insight into Dopamine's Role Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience

Why We See What We Want to See. The Neuropsychology of Motivated Perception

How a Parallax Perspective Can Disrupt Perceptual Bias | Wayne Pernell