Motivation

Motivation

The process that initiates, guides and maintains goal-oriented behaviours. It is the driving force behind the actions we take in order to get closer to our goals.

Sources of Motivation

• Physiological

• Cognitions

• Emotions

• Social

Physiological

Motivation can arise from you body urging you to reach a goal. This occurs due to your body needing to maintain homeostasis, thus urging you to eat, drink, sleep etc.

Cognitions

Our thoughts, perceptions and understandings of the world around us will influence our motivation across all aspects of life.

Emotions

Our feelings play on our motivations just as much as our cognitions. You enjoy playing a sport, so you feel motivated to play it.

Social

Peer pressure and other social pressures can motivate us to act in ways that please our crowd and allows us to fit in

Self-determination Theory Scientists

Deci and Ryan (1985)

Self determination theory Year

1985

Self determination theory

Focuses on the motivation behind the decisions that people make. It argues that people are motivated to learn, grow and change their lives, if their three basic psychological needs are satisfied.

Three basic psychological needs of self determination theory

• Autonomy

• Competence

• Relatedness

Autonomy (self determination theory)

People need to feel in control. Of their own behaviours and goals. This sense of being able to take direct action that results in real life change in one’s life plays a major part in allowing people to feel self-determined

Competence

Individuals must feel effective in their environment. They need to master tasks and learn different skills needed for success, they are more likely to take actions that will help them achieve their goals

Relatedness

People have a need to care for others and feel cared for by others. The sense of belonging attachment and contentedness. Feeling supported by others allows us to develop motivation to make a change

Motivation spectrum

Ranges from Non Self-Determined ——>. Self determined

Amotivation —→ Extrinsic motivation ——> Intrinsic motivation

Amotivation

Describes the lack of motivation due to feeling incompetent. Occurs when an individual determines that they are not able to complete a task, so lose motivation to complete it. Occurs when our psychological needs are not met, leading to negative psychological consequences

Extrinsic motivation

Occurs when people act because they expect to receive an award or avoid a punishment in return. Occurs when only some of our psychological needs are met.

Intrinsic motivation

Occurs when people do something because they find it interesting and/ or enjoyable. Impacted by a person’s attitudes and beliefs. Occurs when all of out psychological needs are met.

Hierarchy of Needs scientist

Maslow

Year of the Hierarchy of needs

1954

Principles of the Hierarchy of Needs

• Self actualisation is the core of personality development

• People are born good

• People should have free will

• People strive to reach their full potential throughout their lives

Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs

Humans are motivated by needs that are arranged in a hierarchy, with psychological needs at the bottom and creative/intellectual needs towards the top. Once each need is satisfied, people strive to meet the next need. This process of fulfilling one’s potential is called self-actualisation.

Theirs of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs

• Psychological needs (deficiency need)

• Safety needs(deficiency need)

• Love and belongingness needs(deficiency need)

• Esteem needs(deficiency need)

• Self actualisation (growth need)

Psychological Needs - Deficiency need

Biological requirements for human survival. These will motivate our behaviour more than anything else if lacking.

Safety needs - Deficiency need

People want to experience order, predictability and control in their lives

Love and belongingness needs - deficiency need

As humans, we have an emotional need for interpersonal relationships, connectedness and being part of a group. Interestingly, this need can override safety needs

Esteem needs - deficiency need

The typical human desire to be accepted and valued by others. People often engage in a profession or hobbies to gain recognition. These activities give the person a sense of contribution or value

Self Actualisation - Growth need

The realisation of a person’s full potential, self fulfilment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences. Desire to accomplish everything one can, and to become everything one is capable of becoming.

Peak Experiences

Temporary moments of self actualisation experienced rather than true self actualisation. Major life events such as graduation.

Scientist of the Expanded Hierarchy of needs

Maslow

Year of the Expanded Hierarchy of Needs

1970

Maslow’s expanded hierarchy of needs

While the deficiency needs remained the same, cognitive, aesthetic and transcendence were added into growth needs.

• Cognitive needs

• Aesthetic needs

• Self actualisation

• Transcendence

Cognitive needs - growth need

Cognitive needs drive our pursuit of knowledge and understanding. Meeting these needs facilitates personal growth, comprehension and a deeper understanding of life and its complexities

Aesthetic needs - growth need

Involve the appreciation or pursuit of art, music, nature and other forms of aesthetic expression. fulfilling leads to deeper sense of satisfaction and harmony in life.

Transcendence needs - growth needs

A person’s full potential is motivated by values that transcend beyond the personal self. They represent human desire to connect with a higher purpose, emphasising altruism, spiritual connection etc.

Self actualisation effects according to Maslow

• Self aware

• Self-acceptance

• Open

• Spontaneous

• Loving

• Caring

Strengths of Maslow’s hierarchy

• Simple and easy to understand/ apply

• Correlation of the stage with life stage

Limitations of Maslow’s Hierarchy

• People are able to operate at higher levels even when lower levels are not met

• It doesn’t hold up well cross-culturally

• It is not very reliable or valid as the model was based on a small sample of individuals selected by Maslow

Subjective wellbeing

One method of thinking about happiness that describes how individuals evaluate their lives to determine wellbeing. Suggests well being can be measured in three main areas:

• The domains of their lives (school, work, friends, family)

• Global judgements, general feelings about their lives

• Ongoing feelings about what is happening to them

Two key components of Subjective wellbeing

• Life Satisfaction

• Affective Balance

Life Satisfaction

How People make judgments and evaluations of their fulfilment within specific areas of their life

Affective balance

Encompasses all the moods, emotions and feelings an individual has over a period of time. The ratio of positive and negative emotions will affect their subjective wellbeing.

Top-down perspective of Subjective wellbeing

When people view their whole life one way. Largely affected by genes and hereditary

Bottom-up perspective of subjective wellbeing

There are specific needs that must be met to have higher levels of wellbeing and fulfilment to occur

Six factor Model of Wellbeing

States that wellbeing is attained by achieving a state af balance affected by both challenging and rewarding life events. There are six factors that influence their psychological wellbeing:

• Autonomy

• Environmental mastery

• Personal growth

• Positive relations with others

• Purpose in life

• Self acceptance

Autonomy (6 factor model of wellbeing)

The ability of an individual to make their own decisions using their free will

environmental Mastery

The feeling of being able to influence our own lives.

Personal growth

When a person feels that they are able to continue to develop and experience new thing

Positive relations with other

where individuals have close bonds with others that include intimacy, empathy and affection.

Purpose in life

When individuals have goals in life that make their lives have meaning

Self-acceptance

Where individuals are able to have a positive outlook on all parts of themselves

Scoring the six factor model

9——20——31.5——42——54

Low. Moderate. High