There is a party in my head and no one is invited: Resting‐state electrocortical activity and solitude
Year: 2023
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: What are the motivational underpinnings of solitude? We know from self-report studies that increases in solitude are associated with drops in approach motivation and rises in avoidance motivation, but only when solitude is experienced as non-self-determined (i.e., non-autonomous). However, the extent to which individual differences in solitude relate to neurophysiological markers of approach-avoidance motivation derived from resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) is unknown. These markers are Frontal Alpha Asymmetry, beta suppression, and midline Posterior versus Frontal EEG Theta Activity. METHOD: We assessed the relation among individual differences in the reasons for solitude (i.e., preference for solitude, motivation for solitude), approach-avoidance motivation, and resting-state EEG markers of approach-avoidance motivation (N = 115). RESULTS: General preference for solitude was negatively related to approach motivation, observed in both self-reported measures and EEG markers of approach motivation. Self-determined solitude was positively related to both self-reported approach motivation and avoidance motivation in the social domain (i.e., friendship). Non-self-determined solitude was positively associated with self-reported avoidance motivation. CONCLUSION: This research was a preliminary attempt to address the neurophysiological underpinnings of solitude in the context of motivation.
Source: Journal of Personality
DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12876
Authors: Chengli Huang, James W. Butterworth, Anna J. Finley, Douglas J. Angus, Constantine Sedikides, Nicholas J. Kelley
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,710
OpenAlex ID: W4385795192