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Cited by 6,775Psychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionPhilosophy and Theoretical SciencePsychology and Mental Health

Beyond pleasure and pain

Higgins, E. Tory·1997·American Psychologist
DOI 10.1037/0003-066x.52.12.1280
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Abstract

People approach pleasure and avoid pain. To discover the true nature of approach-avoidance motivation, psychologists need to move beyond this hedonic principle to the principles that underlie the different ways that it operates. One such principle is regulatory focus, which distinguishes self-regulation with a promotion focus (accomplishments and aspirations) from self-regulation with a prevention focus (safety and responsibilities). This principle is used to reconsider the fundamental nature of approach-avoidance, expectancy-value relations, and emotional and evaluative sensitivities. Both types of regulatory focus are applied to phenomena that have been treated in terms of either promotion (e.g., well-being) or prevention (e.g., cognitive dissonance). Then, regulatory focus is distinguished from regulatory anticipation and regulatory reference, 2 other principles underlying the different ways that people approach pleasure and avoid pain.

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  • Behavior is driven by two fundamental action tendencies: avoidance and approach.

    “Behavior is driven by two fundamental action tendencies: avoidance and approach”

    From The mnemonic mover: Nostalgia regulates avoidance and approach motivation (2014) · cites this paper as Higgins, 1997

  • There is a positive link between abstract construal (global processing style) and promotion regulatory focus (associated with approach motivation).

    “Indeed, there is a positive link between abstract construal (i.e., global processing style) and promotion regulatory focus (associated with approach motivation; Higgins, 1997), and a positive link between concrete construal (i.e., local processing style) and prevention regulatory focus (associated with avoidance motivation; Förster & Higgins, 2005).”

    From The mnemonic mover: Nostalgia regulates avoidance and approach motivation (2014) · cites this paper as Higgins, 1997

  • Each dimension involves distinct motivational systems geared toward avoiding negative affective experiences and approaching pleasant and affectively positive experiences.

    “Further research shows that each dimension involves distinct motivational systems geared toward avoiding negative affective experiences and approaching pleasant and affectively positive experiences (e.g., [69]).”

    From An Appreciative View of the Brighter Side of Terror Management Processes (2015) · cites this paper as [69]

  • Over the life course and with advancing age, the intentional focus of assimilative activities tends to shift from a promotion focus toward prevention and compensation.

    “Over the life course and with advancing age, the intentional focus of assimilative activities tends to shift from a ''promotion'' focus (Higgins, 1997) toward a focus on prevention and compensation.”

    From The Life-Course Dynamics of Goal Pursuit and Goal Adjustment: A Two-Process Framework (2002) · cites this paper as Higgins, 1997

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Authors
Higgins, E. T.
Affiliations
Columbia University (US)
Corresponding author
Higgins, E. Tory
ORCID
Higgins, E. Tory
Venue
American Psychologist
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
1997-12
Volume
52
Issue
12
Pages
1280-1300
ISSN
  • 0003-066X (ISSN-L)
  • 1935-990X
DOI
10.1037/0003-066x.52.12.1280
OpenAlex
W4234715662
Cited by
6,775
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 307 · 2025: 381 · 2024: 367 · 2023: 415 · 2022: 355 · 2021: 356 · 2020: 356 · 2019: 338 · 2018: 376 · 2017: 350 · 2016: 330 · 2015: 354 · 2014: 354 · 2013: 292 · 2012: 287
FWCI
43.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • American Psychologist (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (MH39429)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychology and Mental Health
Keywords
pleasure, pain, affect, emotions
MeSH terms
Emotions, Humans, Models, Psychological, Motivation, Philosophy, Pleasure-Pain Principle

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