Hedonism, Psychological
Hedonism, Psychological
(Gr. hedone, pleasure) Theory that psychological motivation is to be explained exclusively in terms of desire for pleasure and aversion from pain. (See W. James’ criticism of psychological hedonism, The Principles of Psychology, II pp. 549 ff.) Psychological hedonism, as a theory of human motivation in contrast with ethical hedonism which accepts as the criterion of morality, the pleasure-pain consequences of an act. — L.W.