Psychology of Rewards

Reward mechanisms are recently debated and explored by different perspectives. Psychology, neuroscience and clinical domain pointed out the main relevance of reward behavior for subjective and social contexts. The present book highlights the role that reward plays in our life, taking into account the more recent contributions in the research field. Summarizing the most relevant and intriguing scientific contributions on the topic of reward and punishment dichotomy, this book offers an ample overview of the psychological and neurobiological keys to comprehend the complex human mind and its behavior, correlated in response to opposite reward-punishment situations. Topics discussed include the contribution of reward mechanisms in facial expression processing as in the case of supraliminal/subliminal stimulation; new measures of generalized expectancies about reward and punishment; addictive behavior is analyzed taking into account the intervention of dysfunctional mechanisms; the emotional stimulus processing (aversive vs. appetitive) in relationship with BIS/BAS behavioral systems and ERP (electrophysiological) measures; and the feedback elaboration (mismatching feedback) as a function of reward-punishment contribution.