Motivation in Psychological Perspectives

Motivation: PSYC101 Introduction to Behavioural Science (Dr. Rebecca Mursic)

Chapter 13 Overview

Adapted from slides by Dr. Laura Robinson

Learning Objectives

1. Distinguish among the different theoretical perspectives on motivation

2. Identify and define psychosocial motives in the context of motivational psychology

3. Explain how the need for relatedness and need for achievement influences psychosocial motives

What is Motivation?

• Definition: A process reflected in the initiation, direction, magnitude, and continuation of goal-directed behavior.

  • Components:
    i. Goals pursued (What people want to do)
    ii. Strength of desire to achieve those goals (How strongly they want to do it)

• Types of Motivation:

  1. Intrinsic Motivation

  2. Extrinsic Motivation

  3. Amotivation

1) Intrinsic Motivation

• Characteristics:

  • Driven by internal factors.

• Examples: Personal growth, creativity.

• Influence on Behavior: Leads to increased persistence in tasks.

• Long-term Benefits: Increases self-determination and fulfillment.

• Applications in Psychology: Used to create environments that facilitate personal enjoyment and learning.

2) Extrinsic Motivation

• Characteristics:

  • Driven by external rewards or pressures.

• Examples: Financial rewards ($), grades, praise.

• Influence on Behavior: Affects task performance—may increase effort in the short term.

• Short-term vs Long-term Impact: Extrinsic rewards can lead to varying degrees of motivation over time; reliance on them may undermine intrinsic motivation.

• Applications in Psychology: Involves structured environments like education and work.

3) Amotivation

• Definition: A state in which there is no drive, intention, or purpose.

• Example: Disengagement from activities or goals.

• Influence on Behavior: Results in low effort and lack of engagement in tasks.

• Antecedents: Perception that the activities are irrelevant or unimportant.

• Application: Related to concepts such as learned helplessness, where individuals feel powerless to change their situation.

2. Perspectives on Motivation

• Five major theoretical perspectives:
  i. Psychodynamic
  ii. Behaviorist
  iii. Cognitive
  iv. Humanistic
  v. Evolutionary

Recap: Key Psychological Perspectives

• Psychodynamic: Focuses on unconscious processes, historical experiences, instinctual drives.

• Behaviorist: Views behavior as learned through environmental consequences (reinforcement/punishment).

• Cognitive: Considers behavior as a result of information processing.

• Humanistic: Emphasizes the need for self-actualization and personal growth.

• Evolutionary: Explains behavior as a product of natural selection.

1. Psychodynamic Perspective of Motivation

• Concepts:

  • Emphasizes unconscious mind drives (instincts, conflicts).

  • Connects motivation to behavior, thoughts, and emotions.

Example: Procrastination Through the Psychodynamic Lens

• Id Influence: Represents unconscious desires and instincts.

• Ego Influence: Balances immediate desires with long-term goals.

• Superego Influence: Represents adherence to societal expectations.

• Unconscious Conflicts: May involve fear of failure, fear of success, or perfectionism leading to procrastination.

2. Behaviorist Perspective of Motivation

• Key Concepts:

  • Reinforcement: Increases the likelihood of behavior.

  • Punishment: Decreases the likelihood of behavior.

  • Operant Conditioning: Change in behavior caused by the consequences of that behavior.

• Example: Studying for an exam can be motivated by:

  • Positive reinforcement (good grades, praise)

  • Negative consequences (poor grades, criticism)

Drive Reduction Theory

• Definition: A key theory in behavioral motivation.

• Concept: Deprivation of basic biological needs creates an unpleasant state of tension, driving individuals to engage in behaviors that satisfy those needs and restore equilibrium.

• Process:

  1. Biological need occurs (e.g., hunger, thirst).

  2. Need gives rise to drive (internal state of tension).

  3. Goal-directed behavior to satisfy the drive (e.g., seeking food or water).

  4. Drive is reduced upon satisfaction of need, restoring homeostasis (a state of biological equilibrium).

3. Cognitive Perspective of Motivation

• Characteristics:

  • Motivation based on thoughts, beliefs, and expectations.

  • Cognitive Factors:

  • Perceived control

  • Attributions & mindset

  • Cognitive dissonance

• Applications: Encompasses education, workplaces, and daily life.

Procrastination & Cognitive Perspective

• Thought Patterns: Influence on beliefs and perceptions relating to motivation.

• Theories:

  • Expectancy-Value Theory: Considers how expectations and values of tasks affect motivation.

  • Attribution Theory: Looks at how we explain successes and failures.

  • Self-Efficacy and Perceived Control: Impact motivation and goal attainment.

Self-Determination Theory (SDT) (Deci & Ryan, 1985)

• Definition: A key framework that posits three basic psychological needs that drive behavior and foster well-being:

  1. Autonomy: The need to feel in control of one's own actions and decisions.

  2. Competence: The need to master tasks and gain skills.

  3. Relatedness: The need to connect with others.

iv. Humanistic Perspective of Motivation

• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: A theory of motivation that proposes that higher needs emerge as lower needs are satisfied.

  • Basic Needs: Physiological (e.g., hunger, shelter), Safety (e.g., personal and financial security).

  • Psychological Needs: Love/belonging (e.g., affection, relationships), Esteem (e.g., recognition, respect).

  • Self-Actualization: Ultimate goal of personal fulfillment (e.g., creativity, service).

Procrastination & Humanistic Perspective

• Focus on Unmet Higher Needs: Those unmet needs may lead to an increase in procrastination.

• Strategies:

  • Self-reflection and growth-fostering practices.

  • Cultivating self-compassion to combat procrastination.

5. Evolutionary Perspective of Motivation

• Concepts:

  • Motivation rooted in instincts and survival needs.

  • Adaptation: Evolution of behaviors that promote reproductive fitness and survival.

Procrastination & Evolutionary Perspective

• Discussion Points:

  • Procrastination as an immediate need response.

  • Evolutionary byproduct that may mismatch contemporary life requirements.

  • Potential adaptive benefits to certain procrastination behaviors.

  • Takeaway: Understanding these influences may assist in developing effective motivation strategies.

Exercises

• Activity: Complete tasks provided in the "Lecture 3 Class Tasks" document on Moodle for personal application of concepts on motivation:

  1. Revise the various perspectives on motivation.

  2. Apply these perspectives to real-life motivation scenarios.

3a. Psychosocial Motives

• Definition: Motivates including personal and interpersonal factors such as achievement, power, self-esteem, intimacy, affiliation, etc.

• Motivation Types: Intrinsic and extrinsic factors play a role.

The Role of Psychosocial Needs in Motivation

• Influences:

  • Psychological and social factors significantly shape motivation.

  • Key influences include:

  • Emotions

  • Social Context

  • Self-Identity and Self-Esteem

Psychological Well-Being & Key Psychosocial Motives

• Key Factors:

  • Life satisfaction and motivation are closely associated.

  • A sense of purpose and fulfillment contributes to goal-directed behavior.

  • Key Psychosocial Motives:

  1. Relatedness: Connection and belonging to others.

  2. Agency: The capacity to make choices and exert control.

• Note: Emphasizes the importance of psychosocial aspects of motivation beyond mere biological factors.

Two Psychosocial Drivers of Motivation

1. Need for Achievement: The drive to perform well, succeed, and avoid failure. Understanding this need helps create supportive environments for motivating individuals toward goal attainment.

2. Need for Relatedness: Involves interpersonal motivations such as attachment, intimacy, and affiliation, highlighting the significance of social relationships.

Need for Achievement

• Definition: The inherent drive to succeed and to do well; influences behavior and motivation.

• Achievement Goals: These shape behavior, effort, focus, actions, and overall motivation.

  • Types of Goals:

  1. Mastery Goals: Focus on self-improvement and mastery of skills.

  2. Performance Goals: Focus on demonstrating ability relative to others.

• Goal Focus:

  • Approach Goals: Goals aimed at achieving positive outcomes.

  • Avoidance Goals: Goals aimed at preventing negative outcomes.

Examples of Performance Goals

Activity: Reflect on Your Own Performance Goals

Need for Relatedness

• Definition: Refers to the interpersonal needs of humans in terms of attachment, intimacy, and affiliation.

• Importance of Social Relationships: These relationships significantly impact motivation and self-esteem.

How We Interpret and Explain Behaviors

1. Attribution Theory: Examines the reasons behind our own and others' behaviors, helping to understand motivation.

2. Expectancy-Value Theory: Explores how expectancies and values influence motivation in various contexts.

Attribution Theory (Heider, 1958)

• Definition: A theory focused on understanding why individuals do what they do based on perceived causality.

Attribution Theory and Motivation

• Attributions: Represent how we assign causes to our successes and failures.

  • Key Concepts:

  • Locus of Control: Internal vs. external determinations of outcomes.

  • Stable vs. Unstable Factors: Consistency vs. variability of attributed causes.

• Implications/Educational Applications: It affects motivation for future tasks by altering self-perceptions.

Attribution Theory Example: Explaining Academic Performance

Expectancy-Value Theory (Eccles & Wigfield, 2000)

• Definition: A theory positing that two main influences drive motivation:

  1. Expectancy: Self-efficacy or belief in one's own abilities.

  2. Value: The importance or interest level in a task.

Individual Task: Applying Expectancy-Value Theory

Task Instructions:

1. Choose a current task or goal (e.g., studying, personal project).

2. Reflect on two aspects using Expectancy-Value Theory:

   1. Expectancy: Rate your confidence in succeeding (1-10 scale).

   2. Value: Describe the importance/interesting aspects of the task.

3. Write a paragraph explaining your ratings and identify one improvement action for expectancy or value increase.

Expectancy-Value Theory Example

Scenario: Considering Enrollment in a Photography Course

• Outcome: Decision to enroll influenced by expectancy of success and value for personal passion.

• Value Aspects:

  • Passion for photography as a creative outlet;

  • Positive implications for future career; Expectancy of success based on past talent and feedback.

References

• Deci, E. L., Ryan, R. M., Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Conceptualizations of intrinsic motivation and self-determination. Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior, 11-40.

• Wigfield, A., & Eccles, J. S. (2000). Expectancy–value theory of achievement motivation. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25(1), 68-81.

• Sclater, M., & Bolander, K. (2004). Factors influencing students’ orientation to collaboration in networked learning. In Goodyear, P., Banks, S., Hodgson, V., & McConnell, D. (Eds.), Advances in research on networked learning (Vol 4, pp. 175-204). Kluwer Academic Publishers.

• Westen, D., Burton, L. J., & Kowalski, R. (2022). Psychology: Australian and New Zealand edition. John Wiley & Sons.