APS

2026 APS Annual Convention · 2026

When We Break the Rules: Motivation, Meaning, and the Social Logic of Behavior:

Barcelona, Spain · May 2026

Posters · Emotion & Motivation: What Drives the Self

  • Cornel Stemley
    Grand Canyon University

Abstract

This study examines why individuals justify breaking rules by exploring the motivations, meaning-making processes, and social logics that guide behavior. Using qualitative interviews and open-ended questionnaires, the research analyzes how identity, perceived fairness, and group norms shape decisions to deviate, revealing deeper psychological and situational influences on rule-breaking.

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