Why a person acts in a certain way and not differently, what leads to the action and which goals are pursued with what insistency - these are the questions of motivational psychology.
Beginning with everyday phenomena and self experiences the book introduces to the field of motivational psychology.
The work reaches from explanations based on instinct and compulsion, situation dependent incentives to the classical motivational psychology. From the recent scientific debate volition research, risk motivation and flow experience are introduced. Subsequently the concept of motivational competence is presented. The final chapter treats the possibility to measure motivation (motivation diagnostics).
The author succeeds in comprehensively explaining typical behaviour and models through chosen examples.