Preview

Concepts of Motivation

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
860 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Concepts of Motivation
Concept of Motivation
Institution
Name
Date
Concept of motivation Motivation is defined as an amalgamation of forces that instigate, direct and maintain a certain type of behavior that aims towards achieving a specified goal (Hong-chee, 1968). From this definition it is evident that motivation is a group of certain forces working together to achieve a particular objective. Therefore, motivation is regarded as a vector quantity possessing both direction and magnitude. Motivational direction is seen in the individual’s behavioral intention while motivational magnitude is shown by individual’s strength of attraction towards the expected results (Hong-chee, 1968). These two motivational factors are dynamic as they rely on an individual’s choice in a given environment at a particular time. Motivation therefore, is a moderately dynamic individual’s variable that is comparatively influenced by situations (Hong-chee, 1968). Gradual changes in behaviors of individuals are greatly explained by motivation and its importance shown as it is a subject matter in several areas of psychology. For instance, psychologists believe that individuals need to get motivated for them to acquire knowledge and as well as in taking advantage of medical intervention among other examples. Motivation gives interests and incentives which results to specified actions or certain changes in behavior. Motivation is currently depicted in every part of an individual’s life. For example, one is motivated to take food because of hunger while schooling is motivated by the need for better employment, promotion in the work place or need for knowledge. What motivates varies from one individual to another as people may be motivated towards one thing but by different motives. Therefore, whatever motivates an individual ranges from incentive to coercion (Deckers, 2010).

Functions of emotion Even though quantitative deterministic motivational theories do not recognize emotion as an



References: Cherry, K. (2012). Everything Psychology; What Function Do Emotions Serve? (2nr Ed.).Retrieved from: http://psychology.about.com/b/2012/11/28/what-function-do emotions-serve.htm. Deckers, L. (2010). Motivation: Biological, psychological, and environmental (3rd Ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon. Hong-chee, S. (1968).Performance as a function of ability, motivation and emotion. Colombia; The University of British Colombia. Peters, R. (2006). The Concept of Motivation (2nd ed.). California.CA: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Motivation describes how an individual behaves and the reason(s) why he or she behaves in that way. Many psychologists have developed theories and study the behaviors of individuals to determine the motivators that cause certain behaviors. An individual’s behavior is influenced by his or her needs and wants. “Theories of motivation are created to help us explain, predict, and influence behavior” (Stipek, 2006-2011). Psychologists believe that if they can determine why an individual behaves the way he or she does, there is a possibility to change and influence his or her behavior. As one theory is developed, it is also modified later and sometimes dispute. The Motivation Concepts Table (Table 1) shows both grand theories and mini-theories.…

    • 860 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Motivation Evaluation

    • 802 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Motivation can help and hinder the choices an individual makes, sometimes simultaneously. People act and behave various ways and some people may never be understood or why may never be pinpointed. However, every action or behavior is an impulse of an experience or the potential of that individual. Whether it is to achieve a goal, better themselves, or gain success people will act or behave certain ways through their specific form of motivation.…

    • 802 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Motivation Concepts

    • 1098 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Sigmund Freud, a Jewish Austrian neurologist that developed a wonderful theory in 1915 that stated all behavior is motivated and that the primary purpose of someone’s behavior was to serve the satisfaction of needs. This serves to be true in two or more situations in the common workplace. For instance, if company morale is low, there is a very slim chance that the company as a whole will be doing well. People are driven by their need to feel satisfied and wanted at the same time. Therefore, when others exhibit behavior that is non-favorable, it is most likely due to their lack of being satisfied. Behavior can either be motivated in a positive and negative direction.…

    • 1098 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Theories of Motivation

    • 1003 Words
    • 5 Pages

    * Principle that performance on a task is best when arousal level is appropriate to the difficulty of the task:…

    • 1003 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    There are a lot of resources that I found to be helpful to me on the Independence website that will help me along my journey towards earning my degree.…

    • 416 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Motivation and Behavior

    • 686 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Citations: Deckers, L. (2010). Motivation: Biological, Psychological, Enviormental. Retrieved from The University of Pheonix eBook Collection database.…

    • 686 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The author of this paper always understood motivation as what supplies the will to do what is necessary…

    • 807 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    “Motivation” _is the term used to describe those processes, both instinctive and rational, by which people seek to satisfy the basic drives, perceived needs and personal goals, which trigger human behaviour. (Cole, 1996 page 28)_…

    • 1370 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Cipd Change Management

    • 2290 Words
    • 10 Pages

    1.1 Change management is described by Armstrong (1) as “the process of achieving the smooth implementation of change by planning and introducing it systematically taking into account the likelihood of it being resisted”. Change, the fundamental constant in any successful organisation, can be adaptive, reconstructive, revolutionary or evolutionary and can happen for a number of diverse reasons:…

    • 2290 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Analyzing Sammy's Case

    • 1102 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Averill, J.R. (1997). The emotions: An integrative approach. In R. Hogan, J. Johnson, & S. Briggs (Eds.), Handbook of Personality Psychology (pp.513-37). San Diego: Academic.…

    • 1102 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    An individual’s behavior is not a random act. Despite what form, motivation is behind all behavior. “To be motivated means to be induced or moved into action or thought by either the push of a motive or the pull of an incentive” (Deckers, 2010). One simply does not behave without reason. When examining a criminal’s behavior, the criminals motive is tried to be found. A motive is something inside an individual that pushes such individual towards a desire. This desire is the incentive. “An incentive is the anticipated reward or aversive event available in the environment” (Deckers, 2010). Thirst is a motive for drinking. A high school diploma or a bachelor’s degree is the incentive for attending classes. Sometimes motives and incentives are mistaken for the other although motives and incentives are the causes of the individual’s behavior, psychological energy or physical energy is necessary actually to power behavior or thought. Knowledge and competence are also necessary if behavior is to occur (Deckers, 2010).…

    • 738 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Theories of Persuasion

    • 1969 Words
    • 8 Pages

    In an open society we are presented with certain opportunities that other cultures and countries are not. Ever since human beings have been able to want and desire, he has also possessed the urge to direct others to see what he sees. Rhetoric, propaganda, persuasion, these are all just words describing the same thing. Methods of persuasion are all around us. The devices from which we are persuaded come from a number of different places such as advertisements on television, blogs, the internet, radio, colleges, family & friends, and more. One can hope they are well equipped and have a strong ethical tool box.…

    • 1969 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    definitions of Motivation

    • 473 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Out of the given definitions of what motivation is. What motivation is to me, I would have to say for me it falls along the 4th definition. Motivation shouldn’t be a reason given; it should automatically be there for reasons on the person’s own behalf. Regardless of what that reason should be. To me SGT. Haugen’s role in motivation is the 1st definition, for when our motivation is lacking. I didn’t quite understand it when SGT. Sadang and I had talked later that morning, after I had said that SGT. Haugen had taken away any motivation I had. However, that afternoon when we started our extra PT again, SGT Haugen explained it with a bluntly well put phrase that still plays in my mind. Though I might not agree to it, I understand it and I’ve slowly started to become that way. SGT Haugen had said that he wants the motivational type to be like “The fuck I can’t do something, I’ll prove you wrong.” This in turn actually follows something into my past. I wanted to prove my father, that he was wrong about me and that I could serve in the military, and here I am. In the end I would like for the definition of motivation for me to become the 2nd and 3rd only. My current motivation is that watching other people do something makes me want to do it too. In a way it’s like doing my share of the work. Instead I would like it to be the feeling I get of doing it. I use to have that motivation, though somewhere down the road I’ve lost it. I use to enjoy…

    • 473 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Concept of Motivation

    • 743 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The reason I am in college is to get a degree in business administration. I want to enhance my knowledge to run my company. I have the motivation to be successful. Nothing can hold me down or back from, where I would like to be in five years from now. Motivation is the concept of, setting your mind to what you believe that you can achieve. Anyone has the ability to do what he or she want to achieve as long as there motivated to work hard to get where their wanting to be.…

    • 743 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Understanding Motivation

    • 8246 Words
    • 33 Pages

    None of us are to be found in sets of tasks or lists of attributes; we can be known only in the unfolding of our unique stories within the context of everyday events. Vivian Gussin Paley Like the national economy, human motivation is a topic that people know is important, continuously discuss, and would like to predict. We want to know why people do what they do. But just as tomorrow’s inflationary trend seems beyond our influence and understanding, so too do the causes of human behavior evade any simple explanation or prescription. We have invented a word to label this elusive topic—motivation. Its definition varies among scholars depending on their discipline and orientation. Most social scientists see motivation as a concept that explains why people think and behave as they do (Weiner, 1992). Many philosophers and religious thinkers have a similar understanding of motivation but use metaphysical assumptions to explain its dynamics. Today, discoveries in the neurosciences offer a biological basis for what motivation is. Although this understanding is very far from complete, what we know about the working of the brain can enrich and integrate fields as disparate as psychology and philosophy. From a biological perspective, motivation is a process that “determines how much energy and attention the brain and body assign to a given stimulus—whether it’s a thought coming in or a situation that confronts one” (Ratey, 2001, p. 247). Motivation binds emotion to action. It creates as well as guides purposeful behavior involving many systems and structures within the brain and body (Ratey, 2001). Motivation is basic to our survival. It is the natural human process for directing energy to accomplish a goal. What makes motivation somewhat mysterious is that we cannot see it or touch it or precisely measure it. We have to infer it from what people say and do. We look for signs—effort, perseverance, completion—and we listen…

    • 8246 Words
    • 33 Pages
    Good Essays