Defined Motivation
Defined Motivation
Motivation comes from the root "motive" which describes why a person does something and
defines the driving reasons behind our actions and behaviors.
Motivation is the internal drive that propels individuals to take action, achieve goals, and fulfill
their needs or desires.
Motivation includes the biological, emotional, social, and cognitive forces that activate human
behavior.
Tarver, E. (2022, August 16). What is Motivation? Principles, Theories & How it Works.
evantarver.com. https://evantarver.com/what-is-motivation/
- Positive Reinforcement: Receiving praise and positive feedback from teachers, parents,
and peers can boost a student's confidence and encourage them to keep working hard.
Awards, certificates, or even simple words of encouragement can make a big difference.
- Support Systems: Having a strong support system, including family, friends, and mentors,
can encourage students to stay motivated. Knowing they have people who believe in them
and are willing to help can make challenges seem more manageable.
- Overcoming Challenges: Personal challenges or setbacks can sometimes serve as
motivation to prove oneself. A student who has faced difficulties may be driven to overcome
them and achieve success.
Activation is the decision to initiate a behavior. An example of activation would be enrolling
in psychology courses in order to earn your degree.
Persistence is the continued effort toward a goal even though obstacles may exist. An
example of persistence would be showing up for your psychology class even though you are
tired from staying up late the night before.
Intensity is the concentration and vigor that goes into pursuing a goal.5 For example, one
student might coast by without much effort (minimal intensity) while another student
studies regularly, participates in classroom discussions, and takes advantage of research
opportunities outside of class (greater intensity).
1. Intrinsic Motivation
Behaviors driven by intrinsic motivation are personally rewarding and don't rely on anyone
else to accomplish. They are internally rewarding, such as the joy of learning, driving these
actions.
2. Extrinsic Motivation
1. arises from outside of the individual and often involves external rewards such as trophies,
money, social recognition, or praise.
For example, if you're motivated to do a good job because of the incentive of a raise,
you're externally motivated. Using another example, writing a screenplay to earn an
Academy Award is an extrinsically motivating factor.
UNDER INTRINSIC
For example, if you want a promotion because you’ll learn valuable skills and not because of the
higher expected salary, you’re motivated by competence or learning motivation.
B. Attitude Motivation
Attitude motivation is the type of motivation that is driven by the desire to change
the way you or other people think and feel. individuals motivated by attitude
engage in actions and interactions with the specific intention of making themselves
and the people around them feel better in a positive and uplifting manner.
For example, if you’re motivated to work for a non-profit or volunteer in a soup kitchen
because making people feel good makes you feel good
C. Achievement Motivation
Achievement motivation states that people are driven by the desire to pursue and
achieve specific goals. People who are driven by this type of motivation desire the
achievement of a task or goal itself, and not necessarily because of the reward that’s
attached.
For example, an entrepreneur might build a business with the goal of building a
world-class organization, and not necessarily because there’s money involved.
If you’re driven by achievement motivation, you are typically self-motivated and process-oriented,
meaning that you value the process of getting better more than the end result itself. While the
achievement of a goal might seem like an external reward, in actuality this type of motivation is
largely internal. This is because you aren’t enamored by the glitz and glamour of a reward like money,
but rather the feeling of accomplishment you get when you complete a worthy task.
D. Creative Motivation
Many people are motivated by creativity or the innate drive for creative expression.
When you're motivated by the desire to express yourself, you are tapping into
creative motivation.
Examples of creative motivation include things in which you feel compelled to create,
such as the motivation to write a book, act in a movie, play the guitar, build a product,
or start a business.
Creative motivation typically manifests itself as an internal feeling that you have something to say that
needs to get out. Whether you want the entire world to see your art or just a few people, anything
you create in an attempt at self-expression is driven by creative motivation. While the things you
create can be tangible they can also be intangible or ephemeral.
E. Physiological Motivation
Often, humans are driven by some internal force beyond their explanation.
For example, this is sometimes the case when you pursue someone out of love. Your actions are
motivated by deep physiological feelings that are primal and cannot be ignored, regardless of how
hard we try. This represents the physiological motivational factors that are both internal and outside
of our control.
Consider Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs. All humans are motivated by basic needs such as food and
shelter, as well as higher-level psychological needs and self-fulfillment. These needs are innate in all of
us and we are internally motivated to achieve them at all costs, making it helpful when trying to
understand the thought process of yourself or others.
A. Incentive Motivation
Incentive motivation, says that people are motivated more by the reward than by the
achievement of the goal itself.
For example, if you want a promotion because of the higher salary and not because the new
responsibility makes you feel fulfilled, you are motivated by incentives over achievement.
However, incentive motivation isn’t a bad thing. In fact, while it seems like the opposite of
achievement motivation, the two can actually be used together. For example, if you want a promotion,
you can be motivated both by the higher salary as well as the more complex and fulfilling work. In
scenarios like this, it’s a win-win, because you are externally rewarded as well as internally fulfilled.
Seek goals or tasks that have incentives as well as elements of achievement motivation.
B. Fear Motivation
Fear motivation is a motivational type that uses consequences to drive people into
action. Fear motivation can be thought of as a “negative motivator” in that you aren’t
motivated by a reward but by the avoidance of pain or consequences.
For Example: getting fired—is a way to keep you productively moving toward specific
goals, tasks, or deliverables.
While fear motivation sounds bad, it can actually be used as a positive. For example, if you need to get
in shape, you can plan a summer pool party at your house or apartment complex, and use the fear of
showing up out of shape as motivation to stick with the gym and your diet. Think of fear motivation as
positive stressors or positive constraints that help you outsmart your future self, overcome bad habits,
and live the life you want (but might be too afraid to go after).
a motivational factor that says people are motivated by control over their own lives and
the lives of others. Everyone wants choices, and people are often motivated to increase
their overall life options and control the environment around them.
An example of this could be a manager who seeks to inspire their team not just through
authority but by actively promoting their ideas and fostering collaboration.
Power motivation, taken to its extreme, can be seen in real-world horrors like Nazi Germany and other
scenarios where the hunger to control others outweighs any moral obligation or code. However, when
scaled back, power motivation can actually be positive. For example, while it might be bad to control
others, trying to place control over your own life can be a good thing. Power motivation, then,
motivates you to be intentional in your thoughts and actions so you manifest the life you want.
also known as Affiliation motivation, the need to belong, suggests that people are
driven by social factors such as the desire for acceptance and connection. This drive
leads us to seek connections by actively participating in social groups.
Example: where a student organizes a study group for their class. They invite classmates
to join, creating a supportive environment where everyone can collaborate and share
ideas. By doing so, this student not only enhances their own learning but also
strengthens bonds among peers, encouraging a sense of community and teamwork
within the classroom.
Evolutionary psychology tells us that all humans are motivated by these social factors. For this reason,
it’s important to always seek new connections as well as continue to grow the connections you already
have. Finding a group of people who love and accept you can motivate you to new heights and result
in true happiness.
Define Motivation.
- Motivation is the internal drive that propels individuals to take action, achieve goals, and fulfill
their needs or desires. It is the underlying force that influences our behavior, whether it's
pursuing a career, completing a project, or simply getting out of bed in the morning. Motivation
can be rooted in various sources, including personal aspirations, external rewards, social
influences, or intrinsic satisfaction. It acts as the catalyst that transforms intentions into tangible
actions, helping us overcome obstacles and maintain persistence in the face of challenges. In
motivation plays a crucial role in the learning process as it can determine a person's success or
failure. While some individuals may be influenced by external factors, others may be driven by
their personal goals. Regardless of the situation, everyone involved in the learning process
should understand the impact of motivation. When students are motivated, they are more likely
to invest the necessary effort and time to comprehend and remember information, leading to
improved academic performance and personal development. Motivation is a key element of
successful learning, as it encourages students to actively engage with their studies, persevere
through challenges, and strive for a deeper understanding. By nurturing both intrinsic and
extrinsic motivation, educators and parents can help students unleash their full potential and
cultivate a lifelong love for learning.
Tarver, E. (2022, August 16). What is Motivation? Principles, Theories & How it Works.
evantarver.com. https://evantarver.com/what-is-motivation/
MSEd, K. C. (2023, May 3). Motivation: The Driving Force Behind Our Actions. Verywell Mind.
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-motivation-2795378
Tarver, E. (2022a, May 2). 11 Types of Motivation: What They Are & How to Use Them 2020.
evantarver.com. https://evantarver.com/types-of-motivation/
Trial & Er. (2023, November 19). How motivation affects learning. [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Bc7z7gPVI