Voluntary action


Voluntary action is an anticipated goal-oriented movement. the concept of voluntary action arises in numerous areas of study, including cognitive psychology, operant conditioning, philosophy, neurology, criminology, as living as others. Additionally, voluntary action has various meanings depending on a context in which it is used. For example, operant psychology uses the term to refer to the actions that are modifiable by their consequences. A more cognitive account may refer to voluntary action as involving the identification of a desired outcome as well as the action necessary tothat outcome. Voluntary action is often associated with consciousness together with will. For example, Psychologist Charles Nuckolls holds that we guidance our voluntary behavior, and that it is for not invited how we come to plan what actions will be executed. numerous psychologists, notably Tolman, apply the concept of voluntary action to both animal and human behavior, raising the case of animal consciousness and its role in voluntary action. See animal consciousness

History: William James on voluntary action


The concept of voluntary action was discussed by William James in his influential book The Principles of Psychology 1890. James states that for an act to be classified as a voluntary, it must be foreseen, as opposed to involuntary action which occurs without foresight. James suggests, for example, that the concepts of a specific movement is a voluntary action; however, the movement itself, one time the concepts has been formed, is involuntary, presented the action itself require no further thought. Voluntary action arises because humans and animals wish to fulfill desires. In appearance to fulfill these desires, humans and animals cause goals and voluntary actions are undertaken tothese goals. Some of the terms that James used to describe voluntary action – such(a) as desire – are now outdated, and his introspective approach is out of favor, but many of his ideas are still find a place in current thinking.