Mottagligheten

Mottagligheten is a Swedish noun that denotes the quality or state of being receptive to stimuli, information, ideas, or influences. The term derives from mottaglig, meaning receptive, with the abstract-noun suffix -heten. In English, mottagligheten is commonly translated as receptivity or openness.

Use and meaning cross contexts: Mottagligheten is employed in psychology, education, and communication to describe how open a person is to new information, feedback, or persuasion. It can be viewed as both a stable trait and a temporary state: some people are generally more mottaglig, while others show higher receptivity when motivated, interested, or less cognitively loaded. Factors such as trust in the source, perceived relevance of the message, and clarity also influence mottagligheten.

Measurement and research: In empirical work, mottagligheten may be assessed through self-report questionnaires, behavioral tasks that gauge responsiveness to feedback, or as a moderating or mediating variable in studies of learning, persuasion, and behavior change. The concept is often discussed in relation to cognitive and motivational states, as well as social dynamics.

Relation to related concepts: The term is closely linked to öppenhet (openness) and to receptivity for information more broadly. In clinical or educational settings, discussions of mottaglighet may pertain to a patient’s willingness to follow medical advice or a student’s readiness to adopt new learning strategies. It can also intersect with the idea of suggestibility in contexts involving social influence.

History and usage: Mottagligheten has appeared in Swedish philosophical, psychological, and educational writings to describe how individuals engage with external input, influences, or instruction. The concept remains a useful umbrella term for examining how openness affects learning, communication, and behavior.