Motivation and Emotion: Evolutionary, Physiological, Cognitive, and Social Influences

"I think David C. Edwards does a very good job of covering the material. The writing style is consistently clear, direct and interesting. Research findings are clearly presented and clearly explained."

--Ronald R. Ulm, Salisbury State University

How do culture and other people affect our eating habits? Is love "natural" to humans? Is anger always at the root of aggressive behaviors? Aimed at unraveling the mysteries of human motivation and emotion, author David C. Edwards explores the evolutionary, physiological, social, and cognitive factors that shape each motivational behavior from anger to sex to work and play. Topically organized, Edwards provides readers with the best of contemporary findings in each motivational behavior and summarizes how past research in the field contributed to current thought. To facilitate the reader′s comprehension of the material, each chapter begins with a concise overview statement and ends with a personal summary. Within the chapter, the author highlights material of special importance and concludes major sections with a summary. Each chapter ends with a set of questions that will help a student reader prepare for an exam.

David Edwards is University Counsellor at University of Sheffield, and a psychodynamic psychotherapist for Derbyshire Dales Community Mental Health Service.