Atkinson’s expectancy-value theory: what is it and what does it propose?

An explanatory model that shows how motivation and goal attainment work.

When psychologists have tried to study human motivations, they have come across different elements to take into account in order to understand them. Atkinson, in 1964, proposed the expectancy-value theory, based on cognitive elements..

As we will see below, this theory understands that the intention to perform a behavior is determined by the person's expectations to achieve an incentive (or goal) and by the value given to that incentive.

Expectancy-value models

Many theories have attempted to explain human motivations. Within them, and following a cognitivist point of view (which introduces cognitive elements when analyzing behavior), we find the expectancy-value models.

These models consider the human being as an active and rational decision maker.. Furthermore, they suggest that the behavior that a person chooses to act, as well as his persistence and his own achievement, are linked to his expectations and the value he assigns to goals or tasks.

Atkinson's expectancy-value theory: features

The expectancy-value theory was proposed by Atkinson (1957, 1964). It suggests that the intention to perform an action is determined by the expectations of achieving an incentive. by the expectation of attaining an incentive and by the value attached to that incentive.. Atkinson relates these concepts to the need for achievement.

Thus, the theory combines the constructs of need, expectancy and value. He proposes that the manifestation of a behavior is the result of a multiplication between three components: the motive (or need for achievement), the probability of success, and the incentive value of the task.

More specifically, Atkinson suggests that the tendency to perform success-oriented behaviors is a joint function of the person's motivation to achieve success, his or her expectation of achieving success, and inversely proportional to the probability of achieving success.

Components of the theory

As we have seen, there are three essential components of expectancy-value theory. Let's see what each of them consists of:

1. Motives

Motives are relatively stable dispositions or traits of the subject, which make him or her strive for success. that make him or her strive to successfully accomplish a task and take pride in it and feel proud of it or to avoid failure (and the consequences derived from it).

A person's tendency towards one or another motive will determine how he or she engages in achievement tasks.

2. Expectations

Expectations of success reflect the person's perceived likelihood of achieving a goal or succeeding in a task by performing a certain behavior.by performing a certain behavior.

3. Incentive value

The incentive value of a given task is the subject's affective (and positive) reaction to successfully completing the task (pride). The more difficult a task is, the lower the value of the incentive for the person.

Practical example

To illustrate Atkinson's expectancy-value theory, let's use a practical example. Let us consider a person who goes to the gym to lose weight.. The strength of the expectation will be the possibility of losing weight that the person considers when performing this action (going to the gym).

The value of the incentive will be the judgment on the consequence of the action, that is to say, the value that the person gives to the fact of losing weight (for example an aesthetic value, a reaction of well-being with his own body, etc.).

The more positive this value is and the more likely the person considers that he/she is to lose weight, the more expectations he/she will have, and the cognitive process of this will increase the motivation to go to the gym..

Extension and derivations

Atkinson's model was extended by Atkinson and Feather in 1966.. In this new model they include both the achievement tendency motive, called hope for success, and a negative motive, called fear of failure.

In addition, they incorporate two basic affective states are at the base of the motivational process: the satisfaction or pride that accompanies success, and the shame that comes with failure to achieve a goal..

New counter-explanations to Atkinson

Following Atkinson's theory, new expectation-value theories and models have been generated. These have been based on the work of the authors, although with certain differences at the conceptual level and in the causal relationships between variables. with certain differences at the conceptual level and in the causal relationships between variables..

The new models are made up of more elaborate expectancy and value components with a greater number of determinants (psychological and socio-cultural).

In addition, the new models conceptualize a positive relationship between expectancy and value (e.g., the Expectancy-Value Achievement Model of Eccles and Wigfield, 2002). This differentiates them from the classical theory of Atkinson, who, as we have already seen, established a negative relationship between expectancy and goal value.

Bibliographical references:

• Covington, M.V. (1992). Making the grade: A self-worth perspective on motivation and school reform. New York: Cambridge University Press.
• Atkinson, J.W. (1964). An introduction to motivation. Princeton, NJ: Van Nostrand.
• Miñano, P., Castejón, J.L. and Cantero, M.P. (2008). Predicting academic performance from cognitive-motivational variables of an expectancy-value model. INFAD Revista de Psicología, 1(4), 483-492.