Toward a Sociological Theory of Motivation
Abstract
Bringing motivational dynamics back into the mainstream of sociological theory and research requires an examination of how the early theoretical legacy was incorporated in five of the most eclectic approaches in contemporary theorizing on social interaction. The paper analyzes (1) the incorporation of utilitarian and behaviorist theories into exchange theory, (2) the transformation of Mead's social behaviorism into interactionist theory, (3) the evolution of Schutz's phenomenology into ethnomethodological theory, (4) the blending of Freud's psychoanalytic approach with elements of interactionist and phenomenological theory in structuration theory, and (5) the combining of Durkheim's structuralism with ethnomethodology and interactionism in interaction-ritual theory. For each of these five theories, the underlying and largely implicit theory of motivation is schematically modeled. Then, a composite of all the models is constructed in an effort to present a provisional theory of interpersonal motivation.
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People have four basic needs that drive them and must be met; if they are not met, they face a high level of diffuse existential anxiety.
“Turner proceeds from four basic needs that drive people and must be met.If they are not, they face a high level of diffuse existential anxiety.”
From Gifts of Cooperation, Mauss and Pragmatism (2016) · cites this paper as Turner 1987
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Uncertainty, anxiety, and avoidance in communication with strangers
Duronto, P. M., Nishida, T., & Nakayama, S.-I. (2005) · International Journal of Intercultural Relations · doi:10.1016/j.ijintrel.2005.08.003 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Gifts of Cooperation, Mauss and Pragmatism
Adloff, F. (2016) · Routledge · doi:10.4324/9781315692982 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
- Authors
- Turner, J. H.
- Corresponding author
- Turner, Jonathan H.
- ORCID
- Turner, Jonathan H.
- Venue
- American Sociological Review
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 1987-02
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 15
- ISSN
- 0003-1224 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2320298645
- Cited by
- 171
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 6 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 21.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Sociological Review (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Power and Status Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Weber, Simmel, Sociological Theory
- Keywords
- motivation, interpersonal motivation, social exchange theory, interactionist theory, phenomenology, ethnomethodology, structuration theory, interaction ritual theory, utilitarianism, behaviorism, psychoanalysis, structuralism, social interaction
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