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Almost, but not quite there: Research into the emergence of higher-order motivated behavior should fully embrace the dynamic systems approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2025

Christophe Gernigon Open the ORCID record for Christophe Gernigon [Opens in a new window] ,
Rémi Altamore ,
Robin R. Vallacher Open the ORCID record for Robin R. Vallacher [Opens in a new window] ,
Paul L. C. van Geert Open the ORCID record for Paul L. C. van Geert [Opens in a new window]  and
Ruud J. R. Den Hartigh Open the ORCID record for Ruud J. R. Den Hartigh [Opens in a new window]
Christophe Gernigon*
Affiliation:
EuroMov Digital Health in Motion, Université de Montpellier, IMT Mines Alès, Montpellier, France christophe.gernigon@umontpellier.fr remi.altamore@umontpellier.fr https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christophe-Gernigon https://fr.linkedin.com/in/r%C3%A9mi-altamore-6788111a8
Rémi Altamore
Affiliation:
EuroMov Digital Health in Motion, Université de Montpellier, IMT Mines Alès, Montpellier, France christophe.gernigon@umontpellier.fr remi.altamore@umontpellier.fr https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christophe-Gernigon https://fr.linkedin.com/in/r%C3%A9mi-altamore-6788111a8
Robin R. Vallacher
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA vallacher@fau.edu https://psy.fau.edu/people/vallacher.php
Paul L. C. van Geert
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, TS, Groningen, The Netherlands p.l.c.van.geert@rug.nl j.r.den.hartigh@rug.nl https://www.paulvangeert.nl https://www.rug.nl/staff/j.r.den.hartigh
Ruud J. R. Den Hartigh
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, TS, Groningen, The Netherlands p.l.c.van.geert@rug.nl j.r.den.hartigh@rug.nl https://www.paulvangeert.nl https://www.rug.nl/staff/j.r.den.hartigh
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

Murayama and Jach rightfully aim to conceptualize motivation as an emergent property of a dynamic system of interacting elements. However, they do not embrace the ontological and paradigmatic constraints of the dynamic systems approach. They therefore miss the very process of emergence and how it can be formally modeled and tested by specific types of computer simulation.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 48 , 2025 , e34
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Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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