In psychology, the factors that direct and energize the
behavior of humans and other organisms.
Motivation has biological, cognitive, and social aspects, and the complexity of the concept has led psychologists to develop a variety of approaches. All seek to explain the energy that guides people’s behavior in specific directions. Three perspectives have particularly influenced psychologists’ study of motivation: instinct theory, drive reduction theory, and arousal (incentive). A fourth perspective Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, addresses the question of why some motives are more compelling than others at certain points in our lives. A Motivation is a need of desire that serves to energize behavior and to direct it toward a goal. Instincts are inborn patterns of behavior that are biologically determined rather than learned.
Extrinsic Motivation: type of motivation in which a person
performs an action because it leads to an outcome that is separate from or external to the person. Example: Going to work for money. Intrinsic Motivation: type of motivation in which a person performs an action because the act itself is rewarding or satisfying in some internal manner. Example: Creating a web site for fun Freud’s theory of motivation was based on instincts. EROS (Life or Erotic Instinct) Sometimes referred to as sexual instincts, the life instincts are those that deal with basic survival, pleasure, and reproduction. These instincts are important for sustaining the life of the individual as well as the continuation of the species. While they are often called sexual instincts, these drives also include such things as thirst, hunger, and pain avoidance. The energy created by the life instincts is known as libido. Thanatos (Death Instincts) Freud concluded that people hold on unconscious desire by die, but that this wish is largely tempered by the life instincts. In Freud’s view, self destruction behavior is an expression of the energy created by the death instincts. When this energy is directed outward on to others, it is expressed as aggression and violence. Adler didn’t agree with Freud and broke with Freud in 1912 AD. He advocated that human beings are motivated primarily by social urges. He believed basic motivation was compensation (striving to overcome). It is the desire to fulfill our potentials and to come closer and closer to our idea. In order not to feel inferior a person strives and struggles for superiority. In a nutshell, he said that human behavior may be endorsed through a single basic drive known as security drive. The need for security to maintain one’s social self. Goal oriented theory introduced by William James. Explains the role of cognitive factors in producing human motivation. Focuses on individual characteristics and how those characteristics relate to motivation. The achievement of the goal satisfies the individual which in turn reinforces the maintained behavior. Cognitive dissonance (imbalance between what we believe in (cognitive) and what we do (conation)). May create psychological discomfort. The idea that a physiological need creates an aroused tension state (a drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need. Basic purpose is to reduce internal tension caused by unmet biological needs. They work by “negative” feed-back, that is one experiences an unpleasant feeling (hunger, thirst) until you meet the need. Homeostasis: a tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level. The brain makes sure that body is kept in balance (body temperature, fluid levels, energy supplies, need for rest). Some motivated behaviors increase arousal. tries to maintain a certain level of stimulation and activity. In contrast to drive-reduction perspective, the arousal approach also suggests that if levels of stimulation and activity are too low, we will try to increase them by seeking stimulation. Daredevil sports, high-stake gamblers, criminals, risky activities. Theories suggesting that motivation seems from the desire to attain external rewards, known as incentives. Incentive theory states that behavior is motivated by the pull of external (outside) goals such as rewards. Jobs for money, workout for compliments, attend class for A or attendance. Motivation’s Pull. Abraham Maslow believed that people strive for a positive view of the self to realize their own potentials fully. Believed these needs were innate but without a supportive, nurturing environment, this essential striving for full potential could not take place. In other words, he believed we all strive to work at our fullest potential. We all want to become “self actualized” that is reaching and using our full potential in our vocational and personal life. He believed a person must satisfy the needs at the lower levels before moving on to tackle the ones at the top. For example, if you don’t have enough to eat, or scared you may lose your house, you probably won’t strive as much for personal accomplishment. This is very difficult to test. Also some of the most creative people have lived in poverty. Edgar Allen Poe for example Need for Achievement (McClelland) A stable, learned characteristic in which a person obtains satisfaction by striving for and achieving challenging goals. Need for Power (Winter, Zians, & Pratto) A tendency to seek, impact, control, or influence over others and to be seen as a powerful individual. Need for Affiliation (Catnwell, Andrews, Johnson, Semykina, & Linz) An interest in establishing and maintaining relationships with other people.