Reversal Theory: The Dynamics of Motivation, Emotion and Personality

281 Pages·2006·12.67 MB·English

by  Michael J. Apter

REVERSAL THEORY
Renowned psychologist Michael J Apter has taught and researched in
a number of universities, including Yale, Georgetown, and Chicago
in the United States, and Toulouse, Bergen, Cardiff, and Louvain in
Europe. His revolutionary work on reversal theory led to the founda-
tion of the Reversal Theory Society, and the organization of a biennial
international conference. In 1998 he co-founded Apter International,
a management consultancy firm offering products and services to
businesses and organizations, which has resulted in the development
of a worldwide network of management consultants and trainers.
In the course of his career he has written or edited sixteen books
and over 100 articles and book chapters, including Danger (Oneworld
Publications,2006) and Motivational Styles in Everyday Life (American
Psychological Society, 2001), and his books have been translated into
eight languages. He currently resides in Manassas, Virginia.
OTHER BOOKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR
Danger: Our Quest for Excitement
The Experience of Motivation: The Theory of Psychological
Reversals
Motivational Styles in Everyday Life: A Guide to Reversal Theory, (ed.)
Personality Dynamics: Key Concepts in Reversal Theory
Reversal Theory
The Dynamics of Motivation,
Emotion, and Personality
Second Edition
MICHAEL J. APTER
A Oneworld Book
First published in America in 1989
This fully revised and updated international edition
first published by Oneworld Publications, 2006
Copyright © Michael J. Apter, 1989, 2006
All rights reserved
Copyright under Berne Convention
A CIP record for this title is available
from the British Library
ISBN-13: 978-1-85168-480-9
ISBN-10: 1-85168-480-8
Typeset by Jayvee, Trivandrum, India
Cover design by Liz Powell
Printed and bound by XXX
Oneworld Publications
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In Memory of Ivy Apter (1943–1988)
CONTENTS
Preface ix
Introduction xi
1 The Structure of Experience 1
2 The Experience of Arousal 10
3 The Experience of Means and Ends 34
4 Reversal and Dominance 54
5 The Psychophysiology of Metamotivation 79
6 The Experience of Rules 105
7 The Experience of Relationships 128
8 The Nature of Cognitive Synergy 150
9 Clinical Implications of Reversal Theory 165
10 The Experience of Stress 189
11 Motivation, Emotion, and Personality 211
12 The Whole Person 225
Bibliography 247
Index 260
PREFACE
The present work is an updated and expanded revision of a book first
published in 1989. My intention has been, as before, to provide an
accessible account of the theory as a whole, written primarily for stu-
dents and non-specialists. But much has happened over the last sev-
enteen years, and so I have aimed to bring the reversal theory story
fully up-to-date by incorporating references to many recent develop-
ments in both research and practice. While I have not been able to
refer here to every piece of research, every paper, every book, or every
application, I hope that I have been able to provide a good overall
view of where the theory now stands in terms of both evidence and
useability.
At Oneworld Publications I found people whose combination of
professionalism and enthusiasm made them a pleasure to work with.
I would like to record my special indebtedness to Juliet Mabey,
Editorial Director, for her support and encouragement of this project.
I also wish to express my sincere thanks to Kate Smith, Production
Editor, and Kate Kirkpatrick, Editorial Assistant.
Michael J. Apter