atar psych - motivation & wellbeing

motivation

the conscious or unconscious psychological force that drives a person’s behaviour.

physiological motivation

motivation comes from basic survival needs. e.g. hunger, thirst, sleep.

cognitive motivation

motivation comes from thinking and decision making. e.g. choosing food at a cafe by comparing price and taste

emotional motivation

motivation is influenced by our feelings pushing us to do things. e.g. hitting the table because you are angry.

social motivation

motivation is influenced by other people and social norms. e.g. not posting something online because of fear of judgement

extrinsic motivation

the motivation to act is driven by external factors, such as rewards or punishment (e.g. good grades, money)

you feel less sense of control over tasks

intrinsic motivation

the motivation to act is driven by internal factors, such as excitement, purpose, or mastery (e.g. playing a sport)

you feel more sense of control over tasks.

amotivation

the lack of intrinsic or extrinsic motivation, due to the belief that you are incompetent

self determination theory

the ability for people to determine their own actions independently and without external influence. it considers three innate needs; autonomy, competence and relatedness

two main assumptions of SDT

1. the need for growth drives behaviour, where gaining mastery over challenges is important to develop a strong sense of self

2. autonomous motivation: we experience intrinsic motivation, gain knowledge and independence, which is important to develop a strong sense of self

competence (SDT)

the need to gain mastery over tasks & feel capable when taking action

autonomy (SDT)

the need to feel in control of your own behaviour

relatedness (SDT)

the need to feel a sense of belonging and connection with others

strengths of SDT

1. SDT can be applied to teaching and educational practices - students who have more intrinsic motivation in their learning will learn better.

2. SDT can be applied to sports psychology - athletes often perform better if they believe they are competent enough to overcome challenges and win

limitations of SDT

1. SDT is based on western values (like individualism), which may not apply in cultures that value group goals over personal freedom

2. autonomy, competence and relatedness are subjective, so its difficult to test and quantify

maslow hierarchy of needs

• maslow explains human motivation as a series of needs, arranged in a pyramid.

• people are motivated to fulfill basic needs first (like food & safety) before moving on to higher-level needs (like love & esteem)

deficiency needs

physiological, safety, love & belonging, esteem

growth needs

cognitive, aesthetic, self-actualisation, transcendence

physiological needs

our need for the basic biological requirements for survival (e.g. air, food, drink, shelter)

safety needs

our need for security and stability in our environment, including our emotional and physical safety. (e.g. job security, good health, police)

love & belongingness needs

our need for building social connections & a sense of belonging (e.g. friendships, family, relationships)

esteem needs

our need to be accepted and valued by others. two types:

-   Respect from others (external; status, recognition)

-   Respect for self (internal: belief in competence, self worth)

cognitive needs

our need to seek knowledge, understanding, and mental stimulation (e.g. going to university)

aesthetic needs

our need for the appreciation of beauty, balance, and harmony in life

self-actualisation needs

our need to become fulfilled and reach our full potential in life (e.g. peak experiences, personal growth)

transcendence

going beyond your personal self after all needs are fulfilled to help others and feel connected to something greater (e.g. altruism, spiritual connection)

define self-actualisation

the realisation of one’s full potential and the pursuit of self-fulfillment (e.g. personal growth, peak experiences) to become the most complete and authentic version of ourselfs once all lower needs are met.

characteristics of self-actualised people

concern for human welfare, peak experiences, problem centered (not self-centered), personal growth

define transcendence

going beyond your personal self to help others and feel connected to something greater. this includes:

• altruism- helping others without expecting anything back

• spiritual connection- feeling part of the universe or a higher power

• unity & wholeness- feeling connected to humanity, nature, or the devine

subjective wellbeing (diner, 1984)

an individual’s cognitive and affective evaluation of their life

life satisfaction

an individual’s subjective evaluation of their life (work, health, relationships) and whether their current life circumstances meets their personal goals.

i’m living the kind of life i want

is an example of

life satisfaction

my life has purpose, and that keeps me grounded

is an example of

life satisfaction

when i look back, i feel proud of how far i have come

is an example of

life satisfaction

i like the person i have become

is an example of

life satisfaction

affective balance

the balance between positive and negative emotions experienced by an individual

• positive affect- joy, gratitude, pride

• negative affect- anxiety, sadness, anger

i have a lot of moments that make me smile

is an example of

affective balance

there is always something i look forward to

is an example of

affective balance

even when things go wrong, i bounce back quickly

is an example of

affective balance

i wake up feeling excited about my day

is an example of

affective balance

autonomy

feeling in control of your own actions & decisions and seeking validation not from others but from within yourself.

high autonomy

• is independent and able to make their own choices

• does not feel pressured to conform to social norms

low autonomy

• seeks validation from other people

• easily pressured to conform to social norms

• makes decisions based on the opinion of others

i have confidence in my opinions, even if they are contrary to the general consensus

is an example of

autonomy

environmental mastery

managing and adapting to the external world with competency

high environmental mastery

• feels competent in manipulating their environment

• manages complicated tasks, and makes the most out of every situation in life

low environmental mastery

• does not feel competent in manipulating their environment 

• finds complicated tasks overwhelming 

i feel i am in charge of the situation in which i live

is an example of

environmental mastery

personal growth

taking on new experiences and continuously seeking to improve yourself

high personal growth

• welcomes new experiences

• always seeks to learn new things and improve as a person

low personal growth

• living in a stagnation; not having any new experiences

• unmotivated to improve yourself

i think its important to have new experiences that challenge how you think about yourself and the world

is an example of

personal growth

positive relations with others

having meaningful and genuine connections with other people (family, friends, etc) and a concern for the welfare of others.

high positive relations

• has trusting and close relationships

• willing to make compromises in relationships

• is empathetic to others; concerned for the welfare of others

low positive relations

• does not have many trusting or close relationships

• not willing to make compromises in relationships

• has difficulties caring for others

people would describe me as a giving person, willing to share my time with others

is an example of

positive relations with others

purpose in life

having a sense of direction and clear goals in life, and motivated to achieve those goals.

high purpose in life

• has clear goals in life

• is motivated to achieve those goals; sets targets, plans ahead, has visions, etc.

low purpose in life

• lack of goals in life

• or has goals, but is not motivated to pursue them 

some people wander aimlessly though life, but i am not one of them

is an example of

purpose in life

self acceptance

having a positive attitude towards yourself and accepting of your personal strength, weakness and past decisions and behaviours

high self acceptance

• accepts the good and bad aspects of themselves

• has a positive view of their life

• does not show self-pity or delusion 

low self acceptance

• refusal to accept the good and bad aspects of themselves 

• disappointed in their past life

• shows self-pity or delusion 

when i look at the story of my life, i am pleased with how things have turned out

is an example of

self-acceptance