Introduction
Motivation is the psychological attribute that stirs up an individual to take action in order to achieve a desired objective, the motive for the action or simply that, which provides the rationale and course of activities. This dissertation illustrates the occurrences that transpire inside the brain when an individual is put under the process of being motivated. The subject under consideration, which forms the basis of this paper, is chosen to be exercise. (Hofer, 2006)
There are numerous brain configurations as well as brain activity, which are implicated in exercise when used as the motivating factor. Apart from common extrinsic and intrinsic factors, other issues such as heredity and the environment, also exercise their influence on exercise as an inducement.
Main body
The brain comprises of various structures that work in concert with the intention of transmitting information from the body to the mind and contrariwise as well. Neurons lie at the root of all brain activity and thus form the initial point of the discussion. The brain is made up of innumerable neurons, which in effect are cells that focus on transmitting electrical impulses. They accept all external data, convert it into information and pass it on. Neurons characterize information in the form of impulses, which are extremely short durational electrical signals.
The receptive organs of the body fire the picked up information from external resources towards the dendrites. Dendrites are one of the several units that form the framework of any neuron. Subsequent to sufficient electrical impulses getting through to the dendrites within a preset duration of time, the dendrite initiates a sequence of signals on its own. Once the dendrite starts, shooting, electrical signals are transmitted through the axon to the terminal buttons, the extensions located at the terminal ends of the neuron. Following the successful execution of this process, information is all set to be delivered once again. The neuron acts as a receiver when the, when information is let in and subsequently it is converted into an electrical impulse. Consequently, it sends out information to a different neuron acting as a sender in this case. (Ratelle, 2004)
The neurons are not physically arranged in a manner in which they are connected to each other. Thus, the electrical impulse is transformed into a chemical signal to facilitate the transmission of the information over to the subsequent neuron. This substance is referred to as a neurotransmitter. The particles of this chemical matter diffuse through the synapse and combine with receptor sites existent on the accepting neuron. After the process of information transmission by means of this technique is over, the neurotransmitter is recaptured by the sending neuron.
The chemical compound Dopamine is known to be a neurotransmitter, which is linked with the section of the brain that is related to reward and enjoyment. Because of the bliss experienced by the discharge of dopamine, several drugs as well as actions, which amplify the degree of dopamine within the brain, are capable of developing into addictions. The usage specific drugs for example cocaine besides the consumption alcohol and its impact on dopamine levels in the brain has been the subject of various researches across the globe and thus have generated greater awareness over a period of time. However, the form of obsession that appears because of natural dopamine release in the brain has been subject to very little research. Exercise is an activity, which naturally increases dopamine levels in the brain and attracts an ever-increasing number of enthusiasts. As in the case of drug use, running or exhausting exercises creates a runner’s high or exercise high.
This denotes a condition of euphoria involving elation, a good feel, and ultimately relaxation. Attributable to these euphoric outlooks, intense exercise is beginning to develop into an activity that is being engaged in more frequently. However, exercise is not considered as a harmful activity. Thus, the activity passes through the radar test in contrast to unconstructive addictions such as drug abuse and alcohol consumption. Nevertheless, it can also be considered an obsession that induces a blissful feeling similar to the ones generated by drug use. (Michalak, 2006)
Intrinsic motivation also has its own influences on exercise obsession. Many individuals exercise in an attempt to feel healthier both psychologically as well as physically. The Heredity factor could possibly be an intrinsic motivator towards individuals who take pleasure in exercising. Two individuals having dissimilar genetic orientations could engage in precisely the same exercise curriculum obtain distinct outcomes.
Exercise overall, is a consequences oriented process. Those individuals who get positive outcomes of their labor are more liable to be goaded to maintain their exercising schedule. Those who obtain negligible or no results by any means are likely to be dejected by the poor result and may be unenthusiastic to carry on with exercising. The people experiencing positive results of their hard work may feel a sense of comfort and contentment when they see their own mirror image and observe the physical transformations taking place. As conferred earlier, dopamine influences the emotional reaction and the sense of happiness. Thus, the person experiences a discharge of dopamine while seeing the mirror image in addition to the time when they in effect engage in exercising activities. Essentially, it is double the enjoyment. (Hofer, 2006)
Society, in the present day, emphasizes and puts a good deal of significance on physical features.
Because of this, the environment may as well be considered to affect a person’s drive for working out. Just as the sensation of bliss felt by an individual who works out is established as an intrinsic motivator, the drive for physical training because of its societal worth is considered an extrinsic motivator. However, this form of motivator may generate more pressures than providing benefits in view of the fact that it is founded on physicality. Society’s perception of splendor changes repeatedly. Thus, it is tough for an individual to adhere to societal standards. On the other hand people who may have actually start exercising due to extrinsic motives, in due course might possibly build up intrinsic drives to exercise and a the motivation might transform itself and become internalized. (Michalak, 2006)
People opt to work out for various reasons. For each individual, a different motivator sets in. Regardless of the cause, a person chooses to conduct himself/herself in the manner, with an expectation of getting desired pleasure involved. However, this drive can be obsessive. The impact of dopamine, regardless of whether it comes from drugs usage, alcohol consumption, or an activity as respectable as exercise, is gratifying and our self-indulgent inclinations cause the yearning for more. If the sense of bliss is obtained from the activity, it is expected that people will continue engaging in such activities. (Hofer, 2006)
References:
Hofer, Jan, Athanasios Chasiotis, Domingo Campos; 2006; Congruence between social values and implicit motives: effects on life satisfaction across three cultures; European Journal of Personality; 20, 4, 305-324; University of OsnabrĂĽck, Germany.
Michalak, Johannes, Oliver PĂĽschel, Jutta Joormann, Dietmar Schulte; 2006; Implicit motives and explicit goals: two distinctive modes of motivational functioning and their relations to psychopathology; Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy; 13, 2, 81-96; Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
Ratelle, Catherine F. Robert J. Vallerand, Yves Chantal, Pierre Provencher; 2004; Cognitive adaptation and mental health: A motivational analysis; European Journal of Social Psychology; 34, 4, 459-476; Université Laval, Canada; Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada; Université de Limoges, France.