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Cited by 424Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesFree Will and AgencyEmbodied and Extended Cognition

Associative theories of goal-directed behaviour: a case for animal–human translational models

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Wit, Sanne, Dickinson, Anthony·2009·Psychological Research Psychologische Forschung
DOI 10.1007/s00426-009-0230-6PMC PMC2694930
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Abstract

Associative accounts of goal-directed action, developed in the fields of human ideomotor action and that of animal learning, can capture cognitive belief-desire psychology of human decision-making. Whereas outcome-response accounts can account for the fact that the thought of a goal can call to mind the action that has previously procured this goal, response-outcome accounts capture decision-making processes that start out with the consideration of possible response alternatives followed only in the second instance by evaluation of their consequences. We argue that while the outcome-response mechanism plays a crucial role in response priming effects, the response-outcome mechanism is particularly important for action selection on the basis of current needs and desires. We therefore develop an integrative account that encapsulates these two routes of action selection within the framework of the associative-cybernetic model. This model has the additional benefit of providing mechanisms for the incentive modulation of goal-directed action and for the development of behavioural autonomy, and therefore provides a promising account of the multi-faceted process of animal as well as human instrumental decision-making.

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  • The pleasurable experience of prosocial behavior might increase prosocial behavior in the future.

    “Importantly, this pleasurable experience might increase prosocial behavior in the future, based on motivational theories on action selection (De Wit & Dickinson, 2009).”

    From Emotion understanding and the moral self-concept as motivators of prosocial behavior in middle childhood (2020) · cites this paper as De Wit & Dickinson, 2009

    The Response-outcome (R-O) theory section (page not provided) explains that a rewarding outcome can strengthen an association with the action that produced it. The associative-cybernetic model section (page not provided) likewise links experienced pleasure to an outcome’s incentive value. These principles support the proposed mechanism, but the paper does not address prosocial behavior specifically. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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  • The experience following a behavior gets directly associated with the behavior and influences the likelihood of this behavior in the future.

    “On the one hand, motivational theories on action selection suggest that the experience following a behavior gets directly associated with the behavior and thus influences the likelihood of this behavior in the future (De Wit & Dickinson, 2009).”

    From Emotion understanding and the moral self-concept as motivators of prosocial behavior in middle childhood (2020) · cites this paper as De Wit & Dickinson, 2009

  • According to dual-systems accounts, two dissociable learning processes can be identified in instrumental behavior.

    “According to dual-systems accounts, two dissociable learning processes can be identified in instrumental behavior.11,12”

    From Behavioral and neuroimaging evidence for overreliance on habit learning in alcohol-dependent patients (2013) · cites this paper as [11]

  • Goal-directed actions are performed to achieve desirable goals (positive reinforcement) or to avoid undesirable outcomes (negative reinforcement).

    “On one hand, goal-directed actions are performed in order to achieve desirable goals (positive reinforcement) or to avoid undesirable outcomes (negative reinforcement).”

    From Behavioral and neuroimaging evidence for overreliance on habit learning in alcohol-dependent patients (2013) · cites this paper as [11]

  • Dual-process or associative-cybernetic approaches of Dickinson and Balleine and colleagues posit separate and co-existing action and habit memories.

    “It should be noted that the dual-process or “associative-cybernetic” approaches of Dickinson and Balleine and colleagues (e.g., Balleine & Ostlund, 2007; de Wit & Dickinson, 2009; Dickinson, 2012) do posit separate and co-existing action and habit memories.”

    From Context, attention, and the switch between habit and goal-direction in behavior (2021) · cites this paper as de Wit & Dickinson, 2009

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Rovee-Collier CK Zeiler MD Harzem P Infants as problem-solvers: a psychobiological perspective Advances in the analysis of behaviour 1983 Oxford, UK Wiley Rovee-Collier, C. K. (1983). Infants as problem-solvers: a psychobiological perspective. In M. D. Zeiler & P. Harzem (Eds.), Advances in the analysis of behaviour (Vol. 3). Oxford, UK: Wiley.

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Authors
Wit, S., & Dickinson, A.
Affiliations
  • University of Amsterdam (NL)
  • University of Cambridge (GB)
ORCID
Venue
Psychological Research Psychologische Forschung
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2009-04-07
Volume
73
Issue
4
Pages
463-476
ISSN
  • 0033-3026 (ISSN-L)
  • 0340-0727
  • 1430-2772
DOI
10.1007/s00426-009-0230-6
PMC
PMC2694930
OpenAlex
W1991174296
Cited by
424
References
104
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 67 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 20
FWCI
7.49
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc
Locations
  • Psychological Research (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (publishedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Free Will and Agency
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Embodied and Extended Cognition
Keywords
goal-directed behavior, associative theory, belief-desire psychology, action selection, response priming
MeSH terms
Animals, Association Learning, Attention, Conditioning, Operant, Culture, Cybernetics, Decision Making, Goals, Habits, Humans, Models, Psychological, Motivation, Orientation, Psychomotor Performance, Mental Recall, Rats

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