Motivation is that which moves us to action. Human motivation is thus a complex issue, as people are moved to action by both their evolved natures and by myriad familial, social and cultural influences. The Oxford Handbook of Human Motivation collects the top theorists and researchers of human motivation into a single volume, capturing the current state-of-the-art in this fast developing field. The book includes theoretical overviews from some of the best-known thinkers in this area, including chapters on Social Learning Theory, Control Theory, Self-determination theory, Terror Management theory, and the Promotion and Prevention perspective. Topical chapters appear on phenomena such as ego-depletion, flow, curiosity, implicit motives, and personal interests. A section specifically highlights goal research, including chapters on goal regulation, achievement goals, the dynamics of choice, unconscious goals and process versus outcome focus. Still other chapters focus on evolutionary and biological underpinnings of motivation, including chapters on cardiovascular dynamics, mood, and neuropsychology. Finally, chapters bring motivation down to earth in reviewing its impact within relationships, and in applied areas such as psychotherapy, work, education, sport, and physical activity. By providing reviews of the most advanced work by the very best scholars in this field, The Oxford Handbook of Human Motivation represents an invaluable resource for both researchers and practitioners, as well as any student of human nature.

动机是促使我们采取行动的东西。因此，人类动机是一个复杂的问题，因为人们被其进化的天性和无数的家庭、社会和文化影响所驱使而采取行动。牛津人类动机手册》将人类动机的顶级理论家和研究人员汇集到一本书中，掌握了这一快速发展领域的最新进展。本书包括该领域一些最知名的思想家的理论概述，包括社会学习理论、控制理论、自我决定理论、恐怖管理理论以及促进和预防观点等章节。专题章节出现在诸如自我耗损、流动、好奇心、隐性动机和个人兴趣等现象上。有一节专门强调了目标研究，包括关于目标调节、成就目标、选择的动力、无意识的目标和过程与结果的关注等章节。还有一些章节关注动机的进化和生物学基础，包括关于心血管动力学、情绪和神经心理学的章节。最后，在回顾动机在人际关系中的影响以及在心理治疗、工作、教育、运动和体育活动等应用领域中的影响时，各章将动机带入现实。牛津人类动机手册》对这一领域最优秀的学者所做的最先进的工作进行了评述，对于研究人员和从业人员以及任何研究人性的学生来说都是一种宝贵的资源。