Motivation is the expression of the motives that induce a person to carry out or tend towards a certain action. From a psychological point of view, it can be defined as the set of dynamic factors with a certain origin that drive the behavior of an individual towards a certain goal; According to this conception, any act that is carried out without motivation runs the risk of failure.
There are different types of motivation. Among which we find extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. In this Psychology-Online article, we are going to delve together into what what is intrinsic motivation in psychology, the different types and some examples.
The concept of intrinsic motivation was initially used by psychology to explain various "spontaneous" behaviors such as exploration of new spaces and the manipulation of interesting objects, behaviors that seemed to occur independently of each "contingency of reinforcement". Gradually, the concept has acquired a broader meaning to explain a wide range of activities aimed at achieving objectives relevant to subjects.
We define intrinsic motivation the set of positive feelings associated with doing an activity or a job well, the motivation caused by the desire to obtain certain results. Intrinsically motivated people act out of the fun or challenge included in the goal, rather than out of external rewards, pressures, or demands. Motivation comes from the psychological rewards associated with success in a task you enjoy.
It is important to note that when it comes to intrinsic motivation, there are individual differences: people are intrinsically motivated with respect to certain activities and not with respect to others, and not all are motivated with respect to them activities. Ryan and Deci identify at the base of intrinsic motivation three innate psychological needs that support optimal functioning and development of the individual:
- The need for competition.
- The need for autonomy.
- The need for rationality.
In the following article we explain the Types of motivation in psychology: definition and examples.
Daniel Pink is a modern business and management author, with a strong focus on the changing nature of work and its places. In his book "Drive: the Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us" (2009) he focuses on the importance and effectiveness of three elements of intrinsic motivation at work:
- Autonomy: is the wish of direct one's life, and allowing employee autonomy is contrary to the traditional view that wants employees to "respect" what is asked of them. However, if managers want employees to be more involved in what they are doing, they must allow them autonomy.
- Domain: mastery is the desire to continually improve something that counts. Humans like to improve things and enjoy the satisfaction of results and personal progress. Allowing employees to enjoy a sense of progress at work contributes to their inner drive. On the contrary, a lack of opportunities at work for self-improvement or personal and professional development can make employees more bored and unmotivated.
- Purpose: it is the desire to do things in the service of something greater than ourselves. People want to do things that matter. Most of us spend more than half of our hours at work, which is why we want that time to be important.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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