Motive-modulated attentional orienting is shaped by stimulus-driven learning: The case of dominance cues and the need for power.

Janson K, Köllner M, Pülschen LS, Stamm L, Schultheiss O (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

DOI: 10.1037/mot0000420

Abstract

Implicit motives are dispositions that facilitate learning in the service of incentive attainment and disincentive avoidance, with attentional orienting being one likely outcome of such learning processes. This assumption was put to the test in an eye-tracking study (N = 90 for Experiment 1; N = 138 for Experiment 2, after exclusions) that investigated the role of the implicit need for power (nPower), the capacity to derive pleasure from influencing others, in the acquisition of attentional bias via stimulus-driven learning. nPower, measured using a Picture–Story Exercise, facilitated Pavlovian learning of objects that predicted the occurrence of dominance cues. In contrast, we found no clear evidence for motive-modulated instrumental learning of saccadic eye movements, possibly due to features of our design. Overall, our results suggest that the behavioral expression of nPower’s orienting function in the context of dominance-related cues is shaped by Pavlovian learning.

Authors with CRIS profile

How to cite

APA:

Janson, K., Köllner, M., Pülschen, L.-S., Stamm, L., & Schultheiss, O. (2026). Motive-modulated attentional orienting is shaped by stimulus-driven learning: The case of dominance cues and the need for power. Motivation Science. https://doi.org/10.1037/mot0000420

MLA:

Janson, Kevin, et al. "Motive-modulated attentional orienting is shaped by stimulus-driven learning: The case of dominance cues and the need for power." Motivation Science (2026).

BibTeX: Download