Motivation is defined as the driving force or impetus behind behavior, thoughts and actions. Motivation energizes behavior and gives it direction towards a goal. The goal is always to satisfy a need, for example, hunger, thirst, pain avoidance, temperature regulation and elimination. At a higher level the motivation energizes behavior towards achievement, competence, affiliation, esteem and in this case quitting drinking (Gregon, Lefrancois, & Lard, 2003). The brain consists of many parts that function as an integrated whole. The major parts are the medulla, pons, and midbrain (collectively called the brain stem), the cerebellum, the hypothalamus, the thalamus, and the cerebrum. The brain parts are all interconnected and work together. There are specific parts of the brain which are involved in motivation. The limbic system regulates motivation and it is made up of parts known as the amygdale and the hippocampus. These parts helps human beings to learn what sorts of experiences and actions to go for and which ones to keep off. Just as in motivation, it helps humans to know exactly from where to get motivation; extrinsic or intrinsic.
A part of limbic system known as the deep limbic system which lies near the center of the brain acts as a source of drive that keeps people to be goal oriented and creates the desire to achieve. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) also controls motivation and attention. The functions of the prefrontal cortex are normally referred to as “executive functions”. Research studies have shown that any damage to the prefrontal cortex leads to disruption in motivation and attention. The prefrontal cortex is crucial for carrying out goal directed (motivated) behavior. This part of the brain is basically important for long term goals that require planning, working memory; this is very important in quitting drinking. Quitting drinking in itself is a long term goal that requires planning and implementation. The PFC will therefore be fully involved during this process of quitting drinking.
The left frontal cortex which is the control center for positive, outward-reaching emotions related to setting and working towards goals.LFC is also very important in inhibition of over activation of the amygdala which leads to demotivation (Colin, & Shelia, 2001). In order to explain the role of the brain in motivation, it will be important to look at the brain reward system. Human motivation depends on the brain reward system which is a dopamine pathway. This pathway begins with the release of serotonin from the hypothalamus; this stimulates the release of dopamine from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) from where it travels to amygdale, nucleus acumbens, and parts of the hippocampus. This then stimulates the attention and motivation circuits. The stimulation of attention and motivation circuits makes tasks more interesting, and as in this case, an individual will be focused and even interested more towards quitting drinking (Colin & Shelia, 2001).
Intrinsic factors
Apart from the brain factors, there are extrinsic factors and intrinsic factors which are involved in motivation to quit drinking. Research has shown that heredity plays an important role in alcoholism. This has been proven in cases where a child born to an alcoholic father later turns to an alcoholic. Another example is where by twins born to alcoholic parents and given up for adoption and living separately turns to be alcoholics. Studies like this tend to lend weight to the hereditary argument. In this case, it will not be easy for one to quit drinking and his/her efforts to quit drinking will be thwarted however much he/she tries to quit. This will impact negatively on the motivation to quit drinking. Intrinsic factors can be explained using the cognitive approaches to motivation where cognitive theorists believe that behavior is determined by an individuals thinking and not by rewards or punishment he/she anticipates.
They argue that behavior is initiated and regulated by inner plans and not by external events. Cognitive theorists tend to see people as active, curious and always searching for information to solve personally relevant problems which in this case is drinking alcohol (Myers, 1996). Some of the internal factors that may push one towards quitting drinking are alcohol health related problems such as liver cirrhosis. The individual may decide personally to quit drinking because of the health problems and suffering that alcohol has caused him/her. One may also decide just to quit drinking without any reason but just a personal decision, an internal desire that is driving him/her to quit drinking. This desire is normally not having any external influence or force. It may be called a “holistic experience” that creates an intense feeling and desire to quit drinking (Severy, Brigham, &Schlenker, 2001).
Extrinsic factors
The motivation to quit drinking is greatly influenced by environmental factors which include the people surrounding the individual trying to quit drinking, availability of alcohol, the type and nature of friends the person associates with, and the available support to quit drinking. In cases where the people who are close to the individual are alcoholics it will be very difficult for him/her to quit drinking as he/she may be influenced by their habit of taking alcohol. He/she may be tempted to drink alcohol so long as the people who are close to him continue drinking. In case these people also want to stop drinking, he/she may get support to quit drinking not individually but with their help as they will support one another. Another awkward situation is where by alcohol is readily available, for example, alcohol is kept in the house and therefore the individual can access it without any struggle (Severy et al, 2001). This will hinder the motivation to quit in that the individual can access alcohol at any time and at no cost. Quitting drinking alcohol needs a lot of social support and rehabilitative services as it is associated with other adverse effects such as alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
One of the factors that will also determine if one may or may not quit drinking therefore impacting negatively on the motivation to engage in quitting drinking is how or what the person associates alcohol withy. If alcohol or drinking is associated with good things or positive behavior such as courage, satisfaction then it will not be easy to quit drinking as these feelings or experiences which are associated with drinking will be no more but in cases where drinking alcohol is associated with bad experiences such as a past road traffic accident, failing in life, then these may create a drive to quit drinking. There are other factors which are associated with extrinsic motivation, these are reward and punishment. These will either impact negatively or positively on motivation to engage in quitting drinking. They may both give an individual the external drive to engage in quitting drinking knowing very well that they will either get a reward after quitting or get punished if they do not quit drinking. This type of motivation may not be effective in people who are not extrinsically motivated or people who do not care whether they are rewarded or punished (Gregon, Lefrancois, & Lard, 2003). Motivation to engage in quitting drinking depends on several factors and as shown above includes brain factors/functions, external and intrinsic factors. These factors are integrated and may influence one another. It is therefore important for one to consider all these factors if he/she wants to fully quit and recover from drinking.
References
Colin, B., & Shelia, J. (2001). The Oxford Companion to the Body: Limbic system. Oxford University Press. Web.
Gregon, J. D., Lefrancois, G. G., & Lard, J. D. (2003). Adolescent Psychology: Motivation. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Co.
Myers, D. G. (1996). Social psychology. 5th ed., New York: McGraw-Hill.
Severy, L. J., Brigham, J. C., and Schlenker, B. R. (2001). A contemporary introduction to social psychology. New York: McGraw-Hill.