Boekaerts
Updated 2026-08-10
INTRODUCTION
English translation pending.
CORE DEFINITION
Boekaerts' dual-path model holds that a learner's attention is allocated along one of two competing routes. On the growth path the person pursues mastery goals and invests cognitive resources in the task; on the wellbeing path the person protects self-esteem and avoids threat, so attention goes to emotional regulation rather than learning. Which path is taken depends on how safe and relevant the situation feels. The practical implication is that a learner who appears unmotivated may simply be defending, and emotional security must be restored before instruction works.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
- Read the path: ask whether the person is learning or defending at this moment. - Lower the threat: remove the source of anxiety before you push any content. - Then teach: once the person is on the growth path, introduce the material.
Anchor fast decisions
Attention is a limited resource, and defending the self consumes it before any learning can take place. When a situation signals threat, such as public comparison or a high chance of visible failure, the person allocates resources to protecting self-esteem and the material stops being processed. Once the threat is reduced and the task feels relevant, the same person can switch to mastery goals and invest fully. The two paths therefore compete rather than combine, which is why emotional safety is a precondition for instruction.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monique_Boekaertsverified
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