Theory explaining that human behavior is motivated by external rewards or incentives, and that different people are motivated by different things.
Motivation: The driving force or energy behind behavior that helps individuals achieve their goals.
Incentive theory: A theory that suggests that people are motivated by the potential reward for engaging in a behavior.
Reinforcement: The process by which a behavior is strengthened through the addition of a stimulus such as a reward.
Punishment: The process by which a behavior is weakened through the addition or removal of a stimulus such as a negative consequence.
Cognitive dissonance: The psychological discomfort experienced when holding two conflicting ideas or beliefs.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: A theory that suggests that individuals have basic physiological and safety needs that must be met before they can pursue higher level needs such as self-actualization.
Expectancy theory: A theory that suggests that individuals are motivated by their beliefs about the likelihood of achieving a desired outcome.
Goal-setting theory: A theory that suggests that specific and challenging goals can increase motivation and performance.
Self-efficacy: An individual's belief in their ability to successfully complete a task or achieve a desired outcome.
Extrinsic motivation: Motivation that comes from external rewards such as money or praise.
Intrinsic motivation: Motivation that comes from within oneself and is driven by personal interest or enjoyment of an activity.
Flow: A state of complete immersion in a task or activity, often characterized by a sense of timelessness and enjoyment.
Drive Reduction Theory: This theory focuses on the basic biological needs of an individual, such as hunger, thirst, and sleep. The motivation to fulfill these needs encourages one to take certain actions or seek out certain things.
Incentive Salience Theory: This theory explains how certain rewards, such as food or money, gain value or salience over time, incentivizing people to pursue them more.
Intrinsic Motivation: Intrinsic motivation suggests that people are motivated to behave in certain ways not because of external rewards or consequences but because the behavior in itself is rewarding.
Self-determination Theory: This theory stresses that people are naturally inclined towards personal growth and improvement. Therefore, people tend to become more self-motivated when they perceive allocated tasks as instruments that can enhance their self-growth.
Social Cognitive Theory: This theory states that a person's motivation is influenced by the interaction between their environment, personal factors, and behavioral aspects.
Goal-setting theory: This theory suggests that setting specific goals and objectives helps individuals increase their motivation and effort towards the goal.
Expectancy Theory: This theory assesses the expectations that people have concerning their performance and how that performance is rewarded, which motivates people to engage in certain behaviors.
Equity Theory: This theory proposes that people's motivation is influenced by how much they feel that they are being treated fairly and equitably.
Achievement Motivation Theory: This theory suggests that individuals are motivated to achieve because of their desire to master challenges and competing with others.