The Distinct Psychologies of “Looking” and “Leaping”: Assessment and Locomotion as the Springs of Action

Abstract

Abstract Actions require two essential functions: assessment and locomotion. Assessment determines one’s goals and selects the means. Locomotion translates these into concrete behavior. In past work, assessment and locomotion have been portrayed as co‐ordinated and interdependent , or associated with different action phases . In contrast, we review recent theorizing and research that depict assessment and locomotion as autonomous and complementary . Recent evidence supports this conception for the behavior of individuals, groups, organizations, and cultures in reference to actions at different levels of analysis.