Beyond cognition: Broadening the emotional base of motivational interviewing.
Open accessAbstract
Motivational interviewing (MI) techniques have been described in cognitive and behavioral terms, as means to positively resolve tension created by unresolved ambivalence about change. This view of motivation is consistent with a negative reinforcement model, in which behaviors are performed to escape from negative states. In contrast, the concept of positive reinforcement involves seeking positive states through behaviors that lead toward more satisfying conditions. From this perspective, motivation involves a desire to experience positive emotions. This paper focuses on the potential role that emotions may play in MI, particularly positive emotions. The authors posit that MI elicits positive emotions of interest, hope, contentment and inspiration by inviting clients to envision a better future, to remember past successes, and to gain confidence in their abilities to improve their lives.
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Both MI and the effects of PP on mood, well-being, and optimism are associated with greater self-efficacy, confidence, and motivation, which are in turn linked to physical activity.
“In addition, both MI (pathway D1) [113, 133, 141–145] and the previously described effects of PP on mood, well-being, and optimism (pathway E) [52, 95, 146] are associated with greater self-efficacy, confidence, and motivation, which are in turn linked to physical activity (pathway D2) [139, 147–151].”
From Positive Psychological Interventions for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Rationale, Theoretical Model, and Intervention Development (2015) · cites this paper as [144]
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- Authors
- Wagner, C. C., & Ingersoll, K. S.
- Affiliations
- Virginia Commonwealth University (US)
- University of Virginia (US)
- ORCID
- Ingersoll, Karen S.
- Venue
- Journal of Psychotherapy Integration
- Published
- 2008-06
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 191-206
- ISSN
- 1053-0479 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3696
- PMC
- PMC2903073
- OpenAlex
- W2089369629
- Cited by
- 41
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 3.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Psychotherapy Integration (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01AA015930)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA016554)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Keywords
- motivational interviewing, emotions, positive emotions, positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, ambivalence, motivation, hope, inspiration, client confidence, future vision
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