Motivation
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The study of motivation is concerned with understanding processes that drive and direct behaviour. Psychologists study motivational forces to help explain observed patterns and changes in individual human behaviour.
According to motivational theorists, motivation and emotion govern human behaviour. Much empirical attention has been given to determining different aspects, or factors, of motivation.
[edit] What is motivation?
Motivation is a theoretical psychological construct which describes:
- that which moves one into action (Deckers, 2005)
- the force within individuals that energises, maintains and controls their behaviour (Westen, Burton, & Kowalski, 2006)
- that which arouses, directs, and causes persistence of behaviour
- “the driving force behind behaviour that leads us to pursue some things and avoid others” (Westen et al., 2006, p. 370).
- goal-directed behaviour (desire to achieve an objective, combined with the energy to work towards that goal)
[edit] Example questions
Here are some of the kinds of scenarios or questions which motivational theory and research seek to understand and explain:
- Why do some people try to climb Mount Everest or cross the Atlantic in a balloon?
- Why are some people obsessed with gambling while others rarely if every place a bet?
- Why do most of us (or all of us?) fall in love?
- Why are some people heterosexual, some bisexual, and some homosexual?
- Why do some people attend university?
- Why do some strive so hard at work whilst others seem to be motivated to work as little as possible?
- Why do some people volunteer to help others, seemingly without reward?
[edit] Functions of motivational concepts
Gerrig et al. (2008, pp. 370-371) suggest five functions of motivational concepts:
- relate biology to behaviour
- account for behavioural variability
- infer private states from public acts
- assign responsibility for actions
- explain perseverance despite adversity
[edit] Motivational theories
[edit] Historical perspectives
[edit] Learning theories
[edit] Cognitive theories
- Expectancy-Value Theories
- Goal-Setting Theories
- Intrinsic-extrinsic motivation: Motivation is seen as consisting of both internal (desires and motives) and external sources (incentives and goals).
- Self-determination theory: Uses the intrinsic-extrinsic continuum
[edit] Positive theories
[edit] References
- Deckers, L. (2005). Motivation: Biological, psychological, and environmental (2nd ed.). Boston: Pearson Education.
- Gerrig, R. J., Zimbardo, P. G., Campbell, A. J., Cumming, S. R., & Wilkes, F. J. (2008). Psychology and life (Australian edition). Sydney: Pearson Education Australia.
- Westen, D., Burton, L., & Kowalski, R. (2006). Psychology (Australian and New Zealand Edition). Milton, Queensland: John Wiley & Sons.
