Overview

The Paradox of Passion: How Rewards Covertly Control Motivation challenges conventional wisdom about motivation. It reveals why legacy research findings are often misinterpreted and overgeneralized, leading to unrealistic beliefs about the self and others that foster ineffective strategy use impeding optimal learning and performance.The book provides cross-disciplinary evidence emphasizing the essential role of rewards as a biological and behavioral driver of motivation. It challenges the clichéd idea of intrinsic motivation, pointing out the flaws in pursuing passion and purpose without considering how the brain regulates motivation through personalized rewards. Evidence reveals that a singular focus on passion is an unattainable ideal, akin to a mythical ""motivation unicorn."" Instead of hopes and dreams, the book offers practical insights and research-based strategies for enhancing learning and performance by effectively leveraging how the brain uses innate reward pathways to get what we want and sometimes obtain what we need.

Full Product Details

9781538197196

Table of Contents

Reviews

""This highly engaging book is a must-read for both theorists and practitioners who have professional and/or personal interests in the true nature of human motivation and its implications for instructional and clinical practices. Dr. Hoffman delves into the neurological processes that underlie and help explain the biological and environmental influences on what people do and don’t do. In the process, he critiques theories of motivation that have historically been derived largely from self-report questionnaires and observations of human behavior, noting the inherent methodological and analytical weaknesses of such research studies. He offers alternative frameworks that might more accurately explain the very complex, multifaceted, and interactive processes that drive human beings to do what they do. He follows up with well-grounded implications for helping others not only to acquire new knowledge and perspectives but also to revise existing misunderstandings that can interfere with optimal performance in real-world settings."" * Jeanne Ellis Ormrod, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Psychological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado *

Author Information

Dr. Bobby Hoffman is an Associate Professor, researcher, and author who specializes in motivation science and solving the mysteries of human behavior. At the University of Central Florida, he teaches a variety of graduate-level courses in motivation, learning, cognition, and intelligence. Before earning his PhD in Educational Psychology in 2006, he worked for over 20 years in Human Resources management and performance consulting for some of the world's most successful companies including General Electric, NBC, KPMG, and the NBA. He has authored over 100 publications in the fields of education, psychology, neuroscience, leadership, and organizational development. In addition, Dr. Hoffman is a regular contributor to the Psychology Today website where his blog “Motivate” has been downloaded by over 1.2 million readers. He serves on six journal editorial boards includ-ing Contemporary Educational Psychology, Educational Psychology Review, and Educational Technology, Research & Development.

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