THE REWARD PARADOX: THE DUAL FUNCTION OF PLEASURE IN HEDONIC MOTIVATION

Abstract

This article presents the Reward Paradox, a concept that describes the contradiction between immediate pleasure and the pursuit of long-term goals. The paradox proposes that pleasure, while functioning as positive reinforcement and a motivational element, can also temporarily interrupt goal-oriented behavior, especially when associated with hedonic motivation. Drawing on classical psychological theories such as Reinforcement Theory, Self-Determination Theory, self-regulation models, and the literature on procrastination, it discusses how pleasure simultaneously acts as both a driving force and a disruptive force. It argues that understanding this dynamic is essential to explaining patterns of self-sabotage, motivational fluctuations, and difficulties in maintaining goals.