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The Augmentation Principle: Why We Respect Defiance

By Mohammed looti / / 1 min read
Scientifically Reviewed · Dr. Marwa Abd-Alazim · October 27, 2026
Medically & Scientifically Reviewed Verified: October 27, 2026
Dr. Marwa Abd-Alazim PhD in Psychology
Faculty Member • University of Kerbala
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This content undergoes rigorous scientific peer-review and medical editorial standards at Arab Psychology Network to ensure clinical accuracy, validity, and compliance with evidence-based guidelines from leading psychological and healthcare authorities (APA / WHO).

The Augmentation Principle: Why We Respect Defiance
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

in attribution theory, the principle that if someone performs an action when there are known constraints, his or her motive for acting must be stronger than any of the inhibitory motives or constraints. Compare with the discounting principle, [introduced by U.S. social psychologist Harold H. Kelley (1921-2003)1

AUGMENTATION PRINCIPLE: “The augmentation principle refers to whichever is stronger – the will to act with consequences or the will not to act because of the consequences.”

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About the Author: Mohammed looti

An academic and researcher specialized in educational psychology and a faculty member at the University of Kerbala. He holds a PhD in his field, and his research interests center on positive psychology, the development of psychological scales, and cognitive emotion regulation. Dr. Looti is distinguished by his contemporary research approach, focusing on the psychological effects of modern technology and artificial intelligence on mental health and identity formation among young people. His scholarly contributions also extend to studying the dynamics of family communication and its role in building self-efficacy and leadership skills, in addition to his research on mindfulness programs and psychological recovery — making him an active researcher enriching the field of educational and applied psychology.

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Cite This Article

looti, M. (2026, October 27). The Augmentation Principle: Why We Respect Defiance. Encyclopedia of psychology. https://encyclopedia.arabpsychology.com/augmentation-principle/
looti, Mohammed. “The Augmentation Principle: Why We Respect Defiance.” Encyclopedia of psychology, 27 October 2026, https://encyclopedia.arabpsychology.com/augmentation-principle/.
looti, Mohammed. “The Augmentation Principle: Why We Respect Defiance.” Encyclopedia of psychology. October 27, 2026. https://encyclopedia.arabpsychology.com/augmentation-principle/.

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