What do you do when you need things to be done? When you want to finish that project, or when you want to eat a little less there is a driving inner force that you would need to get it done, right? That’s what we call ‘motivation’, the basic reason for acting out or behaving in a particular way. This simple concept is what drives an individual to goal-oriented behaviour. The word ‘Motivation’ was derived from the word ‘Motive’, which means desires or needs. According to the definitions of the American Psychological Association (APA), Motivation is the impetus that gives purpose or direction to behaviour and operates in humans at a conscious or unconscious level. Motivation can make an individual initiate or terminate a particular behaviour. Motivation may depend on the motives of the person, which can be classified into primary and secondary. Primary motives include physiological needs like food, thirst etc and secondary motives include interests goals etc. Motivation is what decides a person’s willingness to put in the physical and mental effort to achieve a goal. Now, do you always feel motivated? Do you always have that motivating drive within always or do you also feel lazy? The strength of motivation may have varying degrees. Sometimes you feel highly motivated to do something, but sometimes the least. Be it stronger or weaker, every degree of Motivation has an important role to play in one’s behaviour and actions. Motivation is what helps an individual to achieve the desired goal at the desired time. It reduces stress and manages to create healthy self-satisfaction which is very important for a stable mental health condition. Even Maslow’s theory of the hierarchy of needs portrays the importance of motivation which acts as the base of all levels. Motivation can be broadly classified into two: extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation. Haven’t you been motivated to win a competition because of that attractive prize? Or haven’t you worked hard on that test to earn a higher grade or a star? That’s exactly what extrinsic motivation is. Extrinsic motivation motivates an individual through materialistic or external rewards. These rewards can be tangible things, money grades or anything. People who are extrinsically motivated continue to do things even though they are not comfortable or mentally available because of the extrinsic reward they obtain in the end. But it’s not bad as it sounds. It’s indeed effective. It keeps an individual completing a task they are supposed to complete even if they find it uninteresting and can be used as a tool to keep individuals motivated by occasional rewards too. But, just like the other side of the coin, extrinsic motivation, offering rewards way too often may lead to a decrease in motivation. Researchers have also found that motivation can also sometimes turn boring when tangled with external rewards. Now, what do you think is Intrinsic motivation? Just as the word suggests, intrinsic motivation is a drive within oneself that you become motivated when you are internally satisfied. When you do a particular task or sport just because you wanted to do it, or simply doing it gives you satisfaction and fulfilment rather than materialistic or external rewards, you are intrinsically motivated. American Psychological Association, (APA) defines intrinsic motivation as an incentive to engage in a specific activity that derives from pleasure in the activity itself (e.g., a genuine interest in a subject studied) rather than because of any external benefits that might be obtained (e.g., money, course credits. The rewards in intrinsic motivation are typically associated with positive emotions. There are several factors which influence Intrinsic motivation which include competition, curiosity, control etc.
Competition: people are motivated when they compare their performance with others and find it favourable.
Curiosity: When cognitive curiosity that is when curiosity to learn something new increases, Intrinsic motivation is likely to increase.
Control: When people generally have control over themselves over the things they want to pursue, they are intrinsically motivated. While understanding these unique features of intrinsic motivation it is also very important to know about the drives of intrinsic motivation.
1)Theoretical – The desire to learn can be one of the most important factors which drive motivation. Theoretical drives provide an opportunity for an individual to learn, research, explore, analyse and think objectively
2)Traditional Most of us are guided by a set of principles which guides the individual’s life. Alignment of the project or their work with the core moral values happens with this motivator. But unlike other drivers, structure plays a significant role to be effective.
3)Utilitarian – They are the doers and desire high returns on their investments in time and resources.
4)Aesthetic – Aesthetic drivers urge to experience harmony, beauty and peace. They give importance to calm, peaceful and comfortable workspaces and environments.
5)Individualistic – The Individualistic Motivator values independence and autonomy. They seek to maximise your accountability.
6)Social – It is the desire to interact and help other people. They focus on human interactions and social support. They are the ‘Helpers’ and value collaborations, selflessness and investing in worthy causes.
So, be it, staying motivated is very important for the survival of the individual. Even though the goals or the strengths or the intensity of the goals vary, the concept of motivation plays a very important role in one’s life. Motivation stands out as an element which continues to encourage people to achieve what they what. Be it a good grade on a test or being someone that you want to be, motivation can bring wonders in one’s life. Though there is no one proven formula or technique to make you motivated in an instant, experimenting with various techniques and doing things that suits your type can help you be motivated.