In this article, the separate literatures of a neurobiologically based approach system and vocational interests are reviewed and integrated into a social neuroscientific model of the processes underlying interests, based upon the idea of selective approach motivation. The authors propose that vocational interests describe the types of stimuli that activate the approach system for a particular individual and provide empirical evidence for this model by relating measures associated with approach motivation with measures of vocational interests. The results support the hypothesis that vocational interests are shaped by distinct facets of the approach system. (Contains 4 figures.)