Marketing
Carlson School of Management
Twin Cities
Award Year
2016
University Award
Distinguished McKnight University Professors
Section A
, Location 14
The Perils and Promise of Human Motivation
Professor Vohs studies human motivation, which inspires action toward immediate desires and lofty goals. Self-control helps people prioritize long-term outcomes over immediate rewards, and thus is exceptionally important for health, prosperity, rationality, and relationship success. Vohs shows why self-control failures are so common, and how to prevent them. Vohs discovered that the mere idea of money changes motivation. Thoughts about money enhance subsequent persistence and performance — but impede giving, helping, and caring.