Chapter 16 Further Reading: Motivation and Goal Pursuit in Courtship

Foundational Academic Sources

Elliot, A. J., & Covington, M. V. (2001). Approach and avoidance motivation. Educational Psychology Review, 13(2), 73–92. A clear, accessible overview of the approach-avoidance motivational distinction and its empirical development. While framed around educational motivation, the theoretical foundations translate directly to courtship contexts and provide essential background for sections 16.1 and 16.7.

Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The "what" and "why" of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268. The foundational theoretical statement of self-determination theory. This paper is dense but rewarding; even reading the abstract and introduction carefully clarifies the autonomous/controlled motivation distinction that sections 16.2 covers in applied form.

Higgins, E. T. (1997). Beyond pleasure and pain. American Psychologist, 52(12), 1280–1300. Higgins's original statement of regulatory focus theory. One of the most frequently cited papers in motivation psychology, and the source for the promotion/prevention distinction discussed in section 16.3.

Downey, G., & Feldman, S. I. (1996). Implications of rejection sensitivity for intimate relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(6), 1327–1343. The primary source for rejection sensitivity theory and its application to romantic behavior. The foundation for the approach avoidance and non-initiation discussion in section 16.7 and Case Study 16.2.

Accessible Academic Reading

Caprariello, P. A., & Reis, H. T. (2011). Perceived partner responsiveness minimizes defensive reactions to failure. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2(4), 365–372. Relevant to sections 16.4 and 16.5 on goal competition and responsiveness. Approachable study design with clear practical implications.

Brown, B. (2010). The gifts of imperfection. Hazelden. Brown's popular work provides the cultural context for understanding how vulnerability has entered mainstream discourse. Read critically alongside the academic sources — Brown's claims are often well-grounded but more absolute in their presentation than the underlying research warrants.

Neff, K. D. (2011). Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself. William Morrow. The accessible version of Neff's self-compassion research, relevant to section 16.12. Her academic papers (particularly the 2003 self-compassion scale paper) are also accessible for motivated students.

On Gendered Initiation Scripts

Sassler, S., & Miller, A. J. (2011). Waiting to be asked: Gender, power, and relationship progression among cohabiting couples. Journal of Family Issues, 32(4), 482–506. Examines how gendered initiation scripts persist into relationship-formation contexts beyond initial courtship. Connects nicely to section 16.8 and Case Study 16.1.

Wade, L., & DeLamater, J. (Eds.). (2015). Sexuality in society. Relevant chapters on gendered scripts. (Students should check their library for the current edition and relevant chapter on initiation norms in American heterosexual contexts.)

On Unwanted Pursuit

Spitzberg, B. H., & Cupach, W. R. (2014). The dark side of relationship pursuit: From attraction to obsession and stalking (2nd ed.). Routledge. The comprehensive academic treatment of unwanted pursuit from mild persistence to stalking. Relevant to section 16.11. The first several chapters are accessible and important for any student interested in understanding where approach motivation crosses ethical lines.

Connections Within This Textbook

• Chapter 11 covers attachment theory and its relationship to approach-avoidance patterns in romantic contexts — secure attachment is strongly linked to autonomous motivation and lower rejection sensitivity
• Chapter 15 connected introversion-extraversion to approach motivation; this chapter deepens the motivational framework underlying that connection
• Chapter 23 takes up gender scripts more fully in the context of cultural performance and courtship norms
• Case Study 16.2's "Marcus" composite connects to the broader pattern of social anxiety and relationship avoidance discussed in Chapter 30 (the dark side section on relationship harm)