Everyday Temptations

Motivation is a key factor in the science of behaviour as it sets into motion many of the processes that produce behaviour. Motivation drives people to pursue life-sustaining activities and avoid life-shortening ones, to set goals and pursue them, to form likes and dislikes, and to think and feel in advantageous ways. Subjectively, motivation takes the form of desire, a feeling of wanting.
Despite the importance of motivation and desire, many basic facts about them remain unexplored. The present study uses experience sampling methods to explore desire in everyday life.