Issue 4 Vol. 39 1997

Volition and action control: A comparison of the theory of action phases and the theory of action control on the basis of the structuralist view of scientific theories

HEISE, E.

The Rubicon theory of action phases from Heckhausen and Gollwitzer is compared with Kuhl's theory of action control on the basis of the structuralist view of scientific theories. For this purpose, central conceptions and assumptions of both theories are reformulated within set-theoretical terminology. This structuralist reformulation shows that several concepts and assumptions describing volitional processes of action control within the two theories are equivalent. Kuhl's concept of choice motivation, for example, corresponds to the concept of motivational strength in the Rubicon theory. The concept of control motivation is functionally equivalent to both volitional strength and the fiat tendency.

The comparison, however, also reveals important differences between the theories. The Rubicon theory, for example, first defines the concept of an action and then divides the action into separate phases. This can be characterized as an action-analyzing perspective. The action control theory, on the other hand, takes an action-synthesizing perspective. Further differences are related to the intended applications of the two theories. The theory of action control primarily pertains to processes between the formation and the enactment of a goal intention, whereas the Rubicon theory is additionally comprised of assumptions about the volitional regulation of intensity and efficiency during action performance.

Keywords: action control, action phases, Rubicon theory, volition, structuralism

Short Title: Heise, E. (1997) PsyBeit 4:413

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