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Volition or will is the cognitive process by which an individual decides on and commits to a particular course of action. It is defined as purposive striving and is one of the primary human psychological functions. Others include affection (affect or feeling), motivation (goals and expectations), and cognition (thinking). Volitional processes can be applied consciously or they can be automatized as habits over time.
Most modern conceptions of volition address it as a process of conscious action control which becomes automatized (e.g. see Heckhausen and Kuhl; Gollwitzer; Boekaerts and Corno).
Willpower and volition are colloquial and scientific terms (respectively) for the same process. When a person makes up his or her mind to do a thing, that state is termed 'immanent volition'. When we put forth any particular act of choice, that act is called an emanant, executive, or imperative volition. When an immanent or settled state of choice controls or governs a series of actions, that state is termed predominant volition. Subordinate volitions are particular acts of choice which carry into effect the object sought for by the governing or predominant volition.
According to Gary Kielhofner's "Model of Human Occupation", volition is one of the three sub-systems that act on human behavior. Within this model, volition refers to a person's values, interests and self-efficacy (personal causation) about personal performance.
In the book A Bias for Action, which sets to differentiate willpower from motivation - the authors use the term volition as a synonym for willpower and describe briefly the theories of Kurt Lewin. While Lewin argues that motivation and volition are one and the same, the authors claim that Ach argues differently. According to the authors, Ach claims that there is a certain threshold of desire that distinguishes motivation from volition: when desire lies below this threshold, it is motivation, and when it crosses over, it becomes volition. Using this model, the authors consider individuals' differing levels of commitment with regard to tasks by measuring it on a scale of intent from motivation to volition. Modern writing on the role of volition, including discussions of impulse control (e.g., Kuhl and Heckhausen) and education (e.g., Corno), also make this distinction. Corno's model ties volition to the processes of self-regulated learning.
In their research study The Role of Volition in Distance Education: An Exploration of its Capacities, Deimann and Bastiaens (2010), attempt to apply the concept of volition research to distance education (DE) research and practice. They argue that the concept of volition, volition competence, and use of volitional strategies have direct application to the field of DE. The ability to stay focused and ward off distractions otherwise known as volition is a skill set required by DE learners to be successful in knowledge acquisition.
- Boekaerts, M.; Corno, L. (2005). "Self-regulation in the classroom: A perspective on assessment and intervention". Applied Psychology: An International Review. 54 (2).
- Corno, L. (May 2001). "Volitional aspects of self-regulated learning". In Zimmerman, Bary J.; Schunk, Dale H. Self-regulated learning and academic achievement: Theoretical perspectives (2nd edition ed.). Mahwah, New Jersey: Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780805835601.
- Corno, Lyn; Cronbach, Lee J.; Kupermintz, Haggai K.; Lohman, David F.; Mandinach, Ellen B.; Porteus, Ann W.; Talbert, Joan E. (September 2001). Cronbach, Lee J., ed. Remaking the concept of aptitude: Extending the legacy of Richard E. Snow. Mahwah, New Jersey: Routledge. ISBN 978-0805835328.
- Deimann, M.; Bastiaens, T. (2010). "The role of volition in distance education: An exploration of its capacities.". The International Review Of Research In Open And Distance Learning. 11 (1). Retrieved 18 July 2012.
- Kielhofner, Gary (2008). Model of Human Occupation: Theory and application (4th edition ed.). Baltimore: Lippencott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-6996-5.
- Volition at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
- Weakness of Will (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
- Modeling Willpower (Darcey Riley)