Introduction to Motivation

Study Notes

Motivation is wanting a change, either in the self or the environment
Motivation explains all forms of behavior, including the causes
Assessing internal, physiological and external, situational factors is important in understanding motivation
Theories of motivation try to explain behavior by examining instincts/drives, incentives/rewards, and the desire for arousal change
Motivation applies to everyday activities like eating and drinking, as well as more adventurous activities like bungee jumping

Learning about motivation is personally satisfying
It provides insights into wants, desires, and how to improve lives
It explores topics such as human nature, goal-setting, desires regarding personal or biological sex, psychological intimacy, and related emotions
It explains how to improve effort, alter behavior, develop skills, increase interest, and improve functioning

Motivation is concerned with what pushes us toward certain behaviors and not others
It's involved in the complex processes that guide individuals towards specific goals
Motivation is often connected to the concept of biological drives and instincts

Motivational science relies on objective, data-based, empirical evidence from research
It values peer-reviewed scientific methods
Motivational science avoids relying on anecdotal evidence, like quotes from famous people

Theories are intellectual frameworks designed to explain a phenomenon (like motivation) in greater detail, understanding, and explanation
They are used to generate and test new hypotheses; providing predictions about what outcomes should occur if a theory is correct
Motivational theories often explore how different concepts interrelate like needs, cognitions, emotions, and well-being

Observing behavior (e.g., intensity, persistence, latency, choice, and probability of response), as well as engagement, and psychophysiological signs (like changes in heart rate), brain activations (e.g. fMRI), and subjective self-reports are used to determine the presence and quality of a motivational state, its intensity and quality

Motivation and emotions are intertwined
They significantly influence behaviors, interactions, and responses to environmental circumstances
Motivation and emotional states are dynamic and reciprocal to the events and outcomes that cause them
The person's needs, cognitions, and emotions contribute to their motivational state and influences their actions, thoughts, feelings, and other factors that determine their well-being
Understanding how environmental factors (support, relationship, and the social context) affect motivations and emotions

Different motivational strategies work better in different contexts and have varying strengths and weaknesses
Strategies should take into account the individual's needs, interests, and personal well-being
Motivational strategies need conditions that support them, like good environments, strong relationships, and appropriate challenges

Needs, emotions, cognitions, and well-being are interrelated
Understanding how motivations stem from those factors allows a more thorough understanding of behavior
Biological and psychological needs shape the desire for fulfilling basic and more complex needs
Needs form the basis of goal-setting and affect the development of one's expectations, beliefs, and values, which guide actions and relationships

Motivation and emotion are dynamic and interact reciprocally, influencing each other's states
Identifying ways that motivations and emotions interact can lead to better understanding of a person's well-being and quality of life