This book walks psychologists through the study of motivation, exploring all conditions that exist within the person and within the environment and culture that explain why we want what we want and why we do what we do. The fifth edition expands on theoretical ideas further into practical applications, especially in the areas of education, work, therapy, sports, and the home. Each chapter features a chapter box that addresses a specific concern. At the end of each chapter is a list of recommended readings for further study. Psychologists will discover a number of new ideas, including achievement goals, personal strivings, types of extrinsic motivation, implementation intentions, and more.

With a new evolutionary theme, Petri's book covers the biological, behavioral, and cognitive explanations for human motivation. The advantages and drawbacks to each of these explanations are presented, allowing students to draw their own conclusions. Students want to know why they behave the way they do. To help students understand the processes that activate their behavior, Petri uses examples drawn from such contemporary topics as sexual behavior, aggression, eating disorders, and obesity to capture and keep students interested. To help students master and retain the information covered, this edition builds upon the text's simple and direct language with expanded pedagogy—including preview questions at the beginning of every chapter, end of chapter summaries, key terms, Web links, and suggestions for further reading.

Motivation is the key to learning. But very few parents and teachers have an effective arsenal of techniques at their disposal. With empathy and understanding, backed by decades of experience in the classroom, Rick Lavoie gives parents and teachers the key to unlock any child's enthusiasm and responsiveness. The Motivation Breakthrough will revolutionize the way parents, teachers, and professionals reach out to and motivate all children.