From Self to Social Relationships：An Essentially Relational Perspective on Social Motivation

Whatisitthatmovesandmotivatesusinourlives?MartijnvanZomerenproposesthatsocialrelationshipsareattheessenceofthiskeyquestionand,inafascinatinginvestigationintohumanmotivation,hedevelopsanovelandintegrativepsychologicaltheorytermed'selvationstheory'.Thetheorysuggeststhatweareessentiallyrelationalbeingsthatseektoregulaterelationshipsinresponsetofeltchangesinournetworkofrelationships(selvations).However,weneedtodothisinculturallyappropriatewaysandthisiswhereourculturallyconstruedselfcomestobeofuse.FromSelftoSocialRelationshipsconstitutesapowerfulargumentabouthumanessence,integratingmajortheoriesinandaroundpsychology,whichhasstrongimplicationsforthestudyandpracticeofsocialmotivation.