Reward dependence (RD) is characterized as a tendency to respond markedly to signals of reward, particularly to verbal signals of social approval, social support, and sentiment.[1] When reward dependence levels deviate from normal we see the rise of several personality and addictive disorders.
In psychology, reward dependence is considered a moderately heritable personality trait which is stable throughout our lives. It is an inherited neurophysiological mechanism that drives our perception of our society and the environment. Even though we are born with these personality traits, their expression during our life span can be modulated throughout our development.
- ^ Theodore Millon; Melvin J. Lerner; Irving Bernard Weiner (January 3, 2003). Handbook of psychology: Personality and social psychology. Wiley. p. 688. ISBN 978-0-471-38404-5.