British Journal of Psychology, General Section. XXXVIII, 1948.: 'L'Appetit Vient En Manageant'. Some Reflections on the Self-Sustaining Tendencies. J. C. Flugel. Pp. 171–190.

'Certain "self-sustaining" needs, desires or activities, when once aroused, may continue and even gain in intensity and occasion prolonged satisfaction in a way that is not explained by the intensity of the original stimulus and that is difficult to account for in terms of the hormic-tension theory of feeling and action. These self-sustaining needs, together with their consequences, would seem to be due to the influence of new or secondary needs or desires which are aroused by the very process of attempting to satisfy the needs that originally started the activities. These new needs may be sensory or ideational according to the nature of the activity concerned.' Flugel examines this theory of tension increase and satisfaction by considering emotions of joy, the tensions present in self-sustaining needs, experimental studies of work curves, and the manner of termination of such needs. He discusses the relation of self-sustaining needs to deprivation, the acquisition of such needs, and how personality is affected by them. Finally, he presents views on the relationships between self-sustaining needs and persistence in motivation, and the relation between these needs and experiences of pleasure.