fei75766_ch12_377-407.indd 390  02/06/20 12:56 PM
Part IV    Dispositional Theories390
some aretension reducing, others tension maintaining. Motives thatappear to
bedifferent really aredifferent, notonlyinform butalsoinsubstance.
 3. “It will ascribe dynamic force to cognitive processes—e.g., to planning and 
intention” (Allport, 1961, p.222). Allport argued thatmost people arebusy
living theirlivesintothefuture, butthatmany psychological theories are“busy 
tracing these livesbackward intothepast.Andwhile itseems toeachofus
thatwearespontaneously active, many psychologists aretelling usthatwe
areonlyreactive” (p.206). Although intention isinvolved inallmotivation, 
thisthird requirement refers more generally tolong-range intention. Ayoung 
woman declines anoffer toseeamovie because sheprefers tostudy anatomy. 
Thispreference isconsistent withherpurpose ofmaking good grades at
college andrelates toherplans ofbeing admitted tomedical school, which is
necessary inorder forhertofulfill herintention ofbeing adoctor. Thelivesof
healthy adults arefuture oriented, involving preferences, purposes, plans, and
intentions. These processes, ofcourse, arenotalways completely rational, as
when people allow theiranger todominate theirplans andintentions. 
 4. Anadequate theory ofmotivation isonethat“will allow for the concrete 
uniqueness of motives” (Allport, 1961, p.225). Aconcrete unique motive 
isdifferent from anabstract generalized one,thelatter being based on
apreexistent theory rather thantheactual motivation ofarealperson. 
Anexample ofaconcrete unique motive isDerrick, whoisinterested in
improving hisbowling game. Hismotive isconcrete, andhismanner of
seeking improvement isunique tohim.Some theories ofmotivation may
ascribe Derrick’s behavior toanaggressive need, others toaninhibited sexual 
drive, andstillothers toasecondary drive learned onthebasis ofaprimary 
drive. Allport would simply saythatDerrick wants toimprove hisbowling 
game because hewants toimprove hisbowling game. ThisisDerrick’s unique, 
concrete, andfunctionally autonomous motive.
Insummary, afunctionally autonomous motive iscontemporary andself-
sustaining; itgrows outofanearlier motive butisfunctionally independent ofit.Allport 
(1961) defined functional autonomy as“any acquired system of motivation in which the ten -
sions involved are not of the same kind as the antecedent tensions from which the acquired 
system developed” (p.229). Inother words, whatbegins asonemotive maygrowintoanew
onethatishistorically continuous withtheoriginal butfunctionally autonomous fromit.
Forexample, aperson mayoriginally plant agarden tosatisfy ahunger drivebuteventually 
become interested ingardening foritsownsake.
Perseverative Functional Autonomy 
Themore elementary ofthetwolevels offunctional autonomy isperseverative 
 functional autonomy. Allport borrowed thistermfrom theword “perseveration,” 
which isthetendency ofanimpression toleave aninfluence onsubsequent experi -
ence. Perseverative functional autonomy isfound inanimals aswellashumans and
isbased onsimple neurological principles. Anexample ofperseverative functional 
autonomy isaratthathaslearned torunamaze inorder tobefedbutthencontin -
uestorunthemaze evenafterithasbecome satiated. Whydoesitcontinue torun?
Allport would saythattheratrunsthemaze justforthefunofit.Final PDF to printer