Motivation is the expression of the motives that induce a person to perform or tend towards a specific action. From a psychological point of view, it can be defined as the set of dynamic factors with a specific origin that drive the behavior of an individual towards a specific 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.
What is intrinsic motivation
The concept of intrinsic motivation was initially used by psychology to explain various “spontaneous” behaviors such as the exploration of new spaces and the manipulation of interesting objects, behaviors that seemed to occur independently of each “reinforcement contingency.” Gradually, the concept has acquired a broader meaning to explain a wide range of activities aimed at achieving objectives relevant to the subjects.
We define intrinsic motivation the set of positive sensations associated with performing an activity or job well, motivation caused by the desire to obtain certain results. Intrinsically motivated people They act for the fun or challenge included in the goal, rather than for external rewards, pressures or demands. Motivation comes from the psychological rewards associated with success in an enjoyable task.
It is important to note that when talking about intrinsic motivation there are individual differences: people are intrinsically motivated with respect to certain activities and not with respect to others, and not everyone is intrinsically motivated with respect to the same 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 intrinsic motivation
Daniel Pink is a modern business and management author, with a strong attention to 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 desire 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. Conversely, a lack of opportunities at work for self-improvement or personal and professional development can make employees more bored and unmotivated.
- Purpose: 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, and that’s why we want that time to matter.
Differences between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
- Unlike intrinsic motivation, which leads to do something for the pure pleasure of doing it, extrinsic motivation guides the behavior of the person who performs a task to obtain a specific result. Extrinsic motivation is fueled by the individual’s desire to avoid or obtain, through one’s own behavior, certain consequences.
- The internal stimuli They generate intrinsic motivation and are determined by the desire and satisfaction of achieving a goal; the external stimuli They are beyond the individual’s control and generate extrinsic motivation: In these cases, the subject commits to carrying out a task to obtain benefits or avoid negative circumstances.
- Students intrinsically motivated to study benefit from the learning activity and are therefore interested in the study itself and not in the advantages that derive from academic success; It is important for them to acquire new skills and improve their knowledge, even through errors and attempts not crowned with success. Extrinsically motivated students, on the other hand, engage in study for reasons external to it, for example to receive good grades: in many cases they prefer a positive evaluation in simple tasks, instead of running the risk of a negative evaluation in more demanding and important tasks. Obviously, one motivation is not better than the other.
This article is merely informative, at 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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Bibliography
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- Goldwurm, G. F. (2010). Positive psychology. Applications for health. Trent: Erickson.
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- Psyche at Work (2018). Intrinsic motivation: what and how to speak. Recovered: https://www.psycheatwork.com/la-motivazione-intrinseca-cose-e-come-svilupparla/
- Tutor2u (2021). Motivation – Pink (Three Elements of Intrinsic Motivation). Retrieved from: https://www.tutor2u.net/business/reference/motivation-pink-three-elements-of-intrinsic-motivation