What Is Motivation Psychology And How Does It Help You?
Our common understanding of motivation is that it’s the drive that helps us achieve. There are many theories that attempt to explain human motivation and motivational processes, such as Instinctual Theory, Drive Theory, and Arousal Theory. Instinctual Theory argues that motivation can be an instinct, while Drive Theory suggests that it may be a way for us to meet our needs, and Arousal Theory says that motivation can be related to the desire for pleasure. In general, there are two types of motivation: extrinsic motivation, which refers to motivation from external sources, and intrinsic motivation, which involves motivation that has an internal source. If you’ve been having trouble with motivation, online therapy can be one way to address it and begin to see improvement.
How the fear of failure and rejection can impact motivation
To ultimately succeed, everyone will likely need to manage the sting of failure and rejection at some point.
For those who are often viewed as “high achievers,” the motivation to continue performing at a high level may be fear-based. Sometimes, the fear of failure can be legitimate. For example, a person who wants to start a business may become fearful of the business failing because it may cause them to fall into debt.
The psychology of fear states that people may also feel fear when they face something they can't control or understand. While running a business may have its ups and downs, the fear of total failure may make some decide not to start at all.
Even if the worst-case scenario is something that could be considered “minor,” like a person saying no or ignoring us, we may still feel too fearful to take chances.
When you experience rejection, the parts of your brain that are associated with physical pain are often activated. Some people may have a high pain tolerance, while others may not. The pain associated with rejection often impacts human behavior.
Moving past fear may look different for everyone. Sometimes, you may have to continue experiencing rejection until you become desensitized to the pain. Other times, you may need to look into other methods, such as attending therapy sessions.
The science behind procrastination
Procrastination can be another frustrating obstacle when it comes to goal setting and goal accomplishment. We may look at our goal, feel intimidated, and decide to put it off for another day. When that day comes, we might push it back again.
Why do we do this? The most obvious reason may be that the activity we want to do is too unpleasant or intimidating. Would you rather spend a weekend with friends or a weekend working on that essay? You might think to yourself, "I still have a few weeks," and then might put off the task to have fun in the short term. This can become a habit, and soon, it may be tough to break out of the cycle.
Other times, procrastination may have been learned from your upbringing. Your family may have a habit of procrastinating, for example, or at some point, you may have learned that you can “get away with” procrastinating and still complete tasks successfully when feelings of anxiety kick in as your deadline grows closer.
Finally, you may not feel confident enough to do something, whether it’s consciously or subconsciously, and you may believe that another day, you may have more confidence. This can be a type of all-or-nothing thinking that may lead to pushing tasks back until you are more confident you can accomplish the entire project at once.
Psychological theories of motivation: Understanding human motivation
The neuroscience of motivation is complex, and those who want to be more motivated or who want to motivate others may wonder what it is that makes us motivated. Optimal motivation may rely on self-determination, and this type of motivation can impact overall task performance. The following theories attempt to explain the process of motivation and how it may be cultivated.
Instinctual theory
This theory says that motivations may consist of instincts or automatic behaviors that we’re often born with. Although we can be self-aware and try to fight our instincts, this is often more difficult than changing a learned behavior.
The instincts that make up motivation may include:
- Survival - You may feel motivated to get a great job so you can feel comfortable financially and have the means to take care of your physical and emotional health.
- Fear - You may fear not being successful, which may give you motivation.
- Love - You may want to be successful so that you can find or keep love.
Drive theory
This is generally similar to instinctual theory, but instead, it can involve you trying to meet your needs. Some people may have more needs and desires than others, and that drive to meet those needs can be seen as motivation.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs addresses the idea that motivation may be based on instincts and meeting personal needs. Maslow’s theory of motivation presents the argument that humans may simply be trying to fulfill their basic human needs, including physiological needs, safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization. In order for a person to have the motivation to move up in the hierarchy, lower-level needs must generally be met first.
Arousal theory
This theory says that people may be motivated because we tend to seek pleasure. When it comes to pleasure, people may experience it in various ways. Some people may feel pleasure living a simple life and watching TV every night. Other people may find pleasure in taking high risks and reaping the rewards. According to this theory, those who have a lot of motivation typically desire high levels of pleasure.
So, which theory is correct? There may be truth in all three. Motivation’s origins may vary depending on the person. Some people may be instinctually driven to be motivated, while others may not have the same instincts, but may be motivated because they seek pleasure.
Extrinsic vs. intrinsic motivation
Extrinsic motivation can also come in the form of punishment from an outside party. Maybe someone wants to keep their grades up in school so they don't have to repeat a class and waste time or tuition. A child may want to please their parents so that they don't get grounded. Motivation based on extrinsic factors may only be effective when the factor is present.
Conversely, intrinsic motivation tends to come from within. It may be heavily based on Self-Determination Theory, and it can encourage you to engage in activities you personally enjoy. For example, you may want to beat a video game on the hardest level of difficulty because you want the satisfaction that comes from accomplishing something challenging. Intrinsically motivated people usually do not rely on extrinsic rewards, which can make it a more powerful form of motivation.
The three steps of motivation: Goals and behavior
- Activation - This is generally the step in which you decide to start working toward your goal. If the goal is to find a new job, the activation could be to start filling out applications. If the goal is to find love, you might create a dating profile or attend a singles' meetup.
- Persistence - There may be activation, but if you give up when challenges arise, then the task likely won’t reach completion. Persistence in finding a job could be to continue sending out applications despite rejection. For dating, this might mean trying to meet someone new if your previous date did not go well.
- Intensity - This can involve the level of effort you put in. A job seeker may fill out applications occasionally, or at every chance they get. A high-intensity dater might bounce back from a bad date and find another one quickly, while a low-intensity dater might lie low for a bit after rejection. The higher-intensity person tends to be more goal-directed and likely to meet their goal sooner.
How therapy can help you with intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation
If you can't find the motivation to accomplish your goals, an online therapist may be able to help. A licensed professional can teach you ways to keep yourself motivated and improve your well-being. If there is a reason why you're not motivated, such as an event in the past, a habit, or a mindset, they can help you gain more complete understanding and teach you how to live in the present to achieve positive outcomes. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is often incredibly effective for breaking old habits like procrastination and fostering healthier practices.
Online cognitive behavioral therapy can be as effective as in-person therapy in treating a wide array of mental health concerns, according to long-term studies. In addition, for those struggling with motivation, it’s often easier to attend online therapy sessions from the comfort of home than to go to physical appointments at a therapist’s office. The flexibility and accessibility of online therapy can make it an excellent choice for anyone seeking professional help with motivation and other mental health challenges.
Takeaway
What is motivation psychology and its three types?
There are different ways to define motivation. In psychology, one way to explain motivation is “a person’s willingness to exert physical or mental effort in pursuit of a goal or outcome.” according to the American Psychological Association. Motivation allows people to strive to fulfill their basic psychological needs. Three main types of motivation are intrinsic motivation (internal incentives—being motivated for one’s own sake), extrinsic motivation (external incentives), and identified motivation. Various factors influence motivation.
What is motivation in psychology and why is it important?
Motivation psychology is a basic psychological concept and important because it is the study of what drives human behavior—positive motivations are what allow people to act and achieve their goals. Motivation is what drives people to fulfill their basic physiological and psychological needs.
What is an example of motivation psychology?
One example of a place where motivation psychology is used is in the workplace to motivate employees. It might use social interaction, positive feedback, employee autonomy, and meaningful challenges to improve employee self motivation and goal directed behavior.
What is the purpose of motivation?
The purpose of motivation is to impel a person to work toward achieving a specific goal. Various factors influence motivation, including intrinsic and extrinsic factors. What are called reward prediction external stimuli are external events in the environment that can signal to a person that a certain behavior may lead to a potential certain reward. These stimuli can also act as motivations for behaviors, although humans have many other motives for their behaviors or may have multiple motives for one behavior, and individual differences between people’s motivations exist.
What is the best definition of motivation?
There is no one best definition of motivation, but Merriam Webster defines motivation as “the act or process of motivating,” “the condition of being motivated,” and “a motivating force, stimulus, or influence.” Motivation is the driving force behind a particular action aimed at satisfying basic needs and is often prompted by external stimulation.
How important is motivation in learning?
Motivation has a considerable influence on learning because motivation plays a crucial role in maintaining focus and interest in what’s being learned. It also allows them to persist in spite of challenges. Research suggests that understanding the motivation of learners is a key element of teaching. In fact, an article published in Motivation Science uses teacher self reports to draw connections between teaching practices and student motivation.
What are the benefits of motivation?
Some of the benefits of motivation are that it maintains focus and perseverance when someone is faced with difficult tasks. The behavior change from the ability to stay motivated can have positive consequences such as achieving particular goals.
What is the effect of motivation on a person?
If a person is motivated, they are more likely to achieve success with a particular goal or a particular task. If someone is able to focus and reach their goal, it can relieve stress and improve self esteem and self concept.
How does motivation focus attention?
Motivation is more likely to happen when emotional engagement is present, and such engagement can boost conscious awareness of the task at hand, thereby improving focus.
How does intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation affect behavior?
There are different motivational reasons behind different behaviors. Intrinsic motivation is based on internal factors such as creative drive, personal values, and specific interests. When intrinsic motivation is present, a person is more likely to take sustained action, which is more likely to lead to personal growth. In other cases, external circumstances might drive what are called external motives. Short-term goal-oriented behaviors occur with such extrinsic motivators, but behavior isn’t likely to change over the long run. Achievement motivation is a type of intrinsic motivation that pushes someone to be their personal best.
How do you keep motivated with goals?
Creating a goal can be easy, but goal attainment can be more challenging. However, it is entirely possible with goal striving, in which cognitive processes are involved in planning and taking steps to achieve a goal. Certain strategies can help someone along this path. Time management strategies can be useful in maintaining motivation. Using environmental cues to remind you to do certain goal-directed behaviors is another strategy. Motivational systems that chunk larger goals into small goals that can more easily be attained in the near future can also be helpful to increase motivation. For instance, if a goal is to earn a master's degree, someone might make a chart with all the steps needed to attain the goal. They might first research prerequisites and make a plan to fulfil them, research programs and make a plan for submitting applications, and then once accepted into a program, plan to complete the program one semester at a time. Or if someone wants to improve the articular behavior of a joint, they might plan a series of physical therapy activities. Accountability is also helpful for goal attainment.
Additional questions about motivation and behavior to ask your therapist
Read below for additional questions and answers about this topic.
What is the greatest human motivation in life?
How can I improve my learning, motivation, and behavior?
What is motivation psychology, and is it the key to success?
What is attitude motivation?
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