motiveeriv

Motiveeriv is a theoretical construct used in discussions of motivation and decision-making, intended to describe how motivational states arise and influence action in an agent. The term is not standard across disciplines and is more common in speculative or interdisciplinary contexts.

In a typical model, motiveeriv comprises several elements: sensory input, internal state (needs and goals), a value or reward signal, and a mechanism for translating value into action urgency. The process can be dynamic, with motiveeriv fluctuating with time, context, and feedback from outcomes.

In artificial intelligence, motiveeriv might be implemented as a function that assigns motivational intensities to actions, guiding exploration and exploitation and shaping policy selection. As a modeling device, it helps separate the evaluation of outcomes from the immediacy of action, allowing researchers to study how motivation modulates decision processes.

Critics note that the concept risks reifying motivation as a separate entity rather than a byproduct of reward processing and cognitive dynamics; empirical validation requires clear definitions and measurable proxies. Proponents argue that motiveeriv can aid in formalizing how motivation interacts with memory, learning, and goal management in both biological and artificial systems.

See also: Motivation, Reasoning, Reinforcement learning, Intrinsic motivation.