A group of internationally renowned scholars discuss their research on motivation.

Introduction Jutta Heckhausen and Carol S. Dweck; Part I. Regulation of the Self, Action, and Development: 1. Decomposing self-regulation and self-control: the volitional components inventory Julius Kuhl and Arno Fuhrmann; 2. Developmental regulation in adulthood: selection and compensation via primary and secondary control Jutta Heckhausen and Richard Schulz; 3. Development of regulatory focus: promotion and prevention as ways of living E. Tory Higgins and Israela Loeb; 4. Commentary: human psychological needs and the issues of volition, control, and outcome focus Richard M. Ryan; Part II. Social Determinants of Motivation: 5. Social motivation and perceived responsibility in others: attributions and behavior of African-American boys labeled as aggressive Sandra Graham; 6. A multidimensional perspective of social control: implications for the development of sex differences in self-valuation and depression Eva Pomerantz and Diane Ruble; 7. The functional regulation of adolescent dating relationships and sexual behavior: an interaction of goals, strategies, and situations Nancy Cantor and Catherine A. Sanderson; 8. Commentary: strategies for studying social influences on motivation Ellen A. Skinner; Part III. Functional and Dysfunctional Control-Related Behavior in Childhood: 9. Ruminative coping with depression Susan Nolen-Hoeksema; 10. The development of early self-conceptions: their relevance for motivational purposes Carol S. Dweck; 11. Sociocultural influences on the development of children's action-control beliefs Todd D. Little; 12. Commentary: self-regulation, motivation and developmental psychopathology John R. Weisz; Part IV. Developmental Goals in Adulthood: 13. A life-span approach to social motivation Laura L. Carstensen; 14. Maintaining self-integrity and efficacy in later life: the adaptive functions of assimilative persistence and accommodative flexibility Jochen Brandtstadter; 15. The willful pursuit of identity Peter M. Gollwitzer and Oliver Kirchhof; 16. Commentary: motivation through the life course Richard Schulz.