"Motivation is the reason for which humans and other animals initiate, continue, or terminate a behavior at a given time."
The driving force behind behavior and action.
Theories of motivation: This topic covers the different theories of motivation, including Maslow's hierarchy of needs, self-determination theory, and drive reduction theory.
Neurobiology of motivation: This topic covers the neural circuits and brain regions that are involved in motivation, including the mesolimbic dopamine system and the prefrontal cortex.
Goal-setting theory: This topic covers the importance of goals in motivation and the factors that influence the effectiveness of goal setting, including task difficulty and feedback.
Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation: This topic explores the difference between motivation that comes from within oneself (intrinsic) and motivation that comes from external forces (extrinsic), as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each type.
Emotion and motivation: This topic covers the close relationship between emotion and motivation, including how emotions can influence motivation and vice versa.
Self-regulation and self-control: This topic covers the role of self-regulation and self-control in motivation, including ways to improve these skills.
Cultural factors in motivation: This topic explores how cultural factors, such as individualism and collectivism, can influence motivation.
Motivation in the workplace: This topic covers different strategies for motivating employees in the workplace, including recognition programs, goal setting, and job design.
The role of personality in motivation: This topic explores how personality traits, such as achievement orientation and locus of control, can influence motivation.
Motivation in education: This topic covers the importance of motivation in education, including strategies for motivating students, such as providing feedback and creating a supportive classroom environment.
Intrinsic Motivation: Motivation that comes from within a person, simply for the enjoyment or satisfaction of the activity itself, rather than for any external rewards.
Extrinsic Motivation: Motivation that is driven by external factors such as rewards or punishment, rather than by internal drive or satisfaction.
Achievement Motivation: The drive to succeed, improve, excel, or accomplish something, often linked to the need for validation or recognition.
Social Motivation: The drive to connect with or gain approval from others, such as friends, family, or colleagues.
Fear Motivation: The drive to avoid or get away from negative outcomes, such as punishment or pain.
Curiosity Motivation: The drive to explore or discover new things, often motivated by a desire for knowledge or novelty.
Power Motivation: The drive to have control or influence over others or situations, often driven by a desire for status or authority.
Affiliation Motivation: The drive to be with people, feel connected, and be part of a group, often driven by a desire for social interaction or a sense of belonging.
Identity Motivation: The drive to establish a sense of self, often linked to personal values, beliefs, and goals.
Economic Motivation: The drive to obtain resources or financial rewards, often linked to economic success.
Status Motivation: The drive to achieve social status, respect or recognition, often driven by a desire for admiration or prestige.
Cultural Motivation: The drive to conform to cultural norms, values, and beliefs, and to find meaning in cultural traditions or practices.
Environmental Motivation: The drive to care for the environment, including protecting natural resources or animal habitats.
Health Motivation: The drive to maintain or improve physical, mental or emotional well-being, often motivated by a desire to feel healthy, fit or confident.
Altruistic Motivation: The drive to help others, often driven by a sense of empathy, compassion or social responsibility.
"Motivational states are commonly understood as forces acting within the agent that create a disposition to engage in goal-directed behavior."
"This means that we can be motivated to do something without actually doing it."
"The paradigmatic mental state providing motivation is desire."
"But various other states, such as beliefs about what one ought to do or intentions, may also provide motivation."
"Motivation is derived from the word 'motive', which denotes a person's needs, desires, wants, or urges."
"It is the process of motivating individuals to take action to achieve a goal."
"The psychological elements fueling people's behavior in the context of job goals might include a desire for money."
"Content theories... aim to describe what goals usually or always motivate people."
"Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs... posit that humans have certain needs, which are responsible for motivation."
"Behaviorist theories try to explain behavior solely in terms of the relation between the situation and external, observable behavior without explicit reference to conscious mental states."
"Motivation may be either intrinsic if the activity is desired because it is inherently interesting or enjoyable."
"Motivation may be... extrinsic if the agent's goal is an external reward distinct from the activity itself."
"It has been argued that intrinsic motivation has more beneficial outcomes than extrinsic motivation."
"Motivational states can also be categorized according to whether the agent is fully aware of why he acts the way he does or not, referred to as conscious and unconscious motivation."
"Motivation is closely related to practical rationality."
"Failing to fulfill this requirement results in cases of irrationality, known as akrasia or weakness of the will, in which there is a discrepancy between our beliefs about what we should do and our actions."
"In the field of business, a central question concerns work motivation, for example, what measures an employer can use to ensure that his employees are motivated."
"Motivation is also of particular interest to educational psychologists because of its crucial role in student learning."
"Specific interest has been given to the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in this field."