conation: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/AcademicFormal, Technical (Psychology/Philosophy)
Quick answer
What does “conation” mean?
The mental faculty of purposeful striving, intention, volition, or will.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The mental faculty of purposeful striving, intention, volition, or will; the aspect of mind directed toward action and effort.
In psychology and philosophy, conation is the part of mental life that involves desire, volition, and striving, often seen as one of three aspects of the mind alongside cognition (knowing) and affection (feeling). It refers to the proactive, goal-oriented drive behind behaviour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is equally specialised and rare in both varieties.
Connotations
None beyond its strict technical meaning.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, confined to academic texts.
Grammar
How to Use “conation” in a Sentence
The conation to + INFconation towards + NPVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “conation” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The term 'conate' is obsolete and not used.
American English
- The term 'conate' is obsolete and not used.
adverb
British English
- The patient acted conatively, with clear intent.
American English
- He behaved conatively, striving to complete the task.
adjective
British English
- The conative aspect of behaviour is often overlooked.
American English
- The conative dimension of the test measures goal-directed effort.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Primary context. Used in psychology (e.g., 'The model integrates cognition, affect, and conation') and philosophy texts.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
As per academic usage; may appear in technical models of motivation or behaviour.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “conation”
- Misspelling as 'cognition'.
- Using it in non-academic contexts.
- Pronouncing the first syllable as /kɒn/ instead of /kə/ or /koʊ/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Cognition refers to thinking and knowing, while conation refers to willing and striving towards action.
No, it is a rare, specialised term used almost exclusively in academic writing in psychology and philosophy.
It is a noun. The related adjective is 'conative'.
In its core sense, 'will' or 'volition' are the closest simple synonyms.
Conation is usually formal, technical (psychology/philosophy) in register.
Conation: in British English it is pronounced /kəʊˈneɪʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /koʊˈneɪʃ(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CONATION as your mental 'GO-NAtion' – the part that makes you GO and take action.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A TRIPARTITE ENTITY (cognition, affection, conation). CONATION IS A DRIVING FORCE / ENGINE.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'conation' MOST likely to be found?