Introduction
Motivation refers to the drive that brings about certain behaviors in an individual. On a detailed perspective, motivation can be defined as the process that initiates, directs, and sustains goal-oriented behaviors in people (Bernstein, 2010). The three key components of motivation are:
- Activation
- Determination
- Intensity
Activation is the decision that kicks off a behavior. On the other hand, persistence is the continued effort that people put to achieve an objective (Bernstein, 2010). Intensity is the concentration and vigor that an individual puts to achieve set goals and objectives. Given all these facts, this paper will critically analyze the concept of motivation and the impacts it has on individuals.
Sources of Motivation
According to Shah and Gardner (2008), motivated characteristics that occur because of forces that originate from internal sources indicate internal casualty. On the other hand, the characteristics that are displayed by an individual due to the presence of external factors result in external casualty. Accordingly, enjoyment and pleasure are the major outcomes of people who are mostly motivated by intrinsic processes. This explains why people prefer to work together as a team because of the desired results that teamwork has in achieving the set goals. Consequently, people who are motivated as a result of instrumental rewards tend to strive to achieve certain goals due to the desirable outcomes that will accrue. Examples of these outcomes include an increase in salary, promotion, or winning titles such as the employee of the month. Such a notion is based on expectancy and equity premise because the source of motivation is derived from the exchange of relations. Therefore, the ideal status of an individual is achieved by adopting the role and expectations of reference groups (Bernstein, 2010).
Furthermore, individuals seek to fulfill the expectations of others by behaving in a manner that will draw out a social feedback that is consistent with their self-perception. That is why individuals belonging to the same peer groups find it easier and indispensable to communicate with each other. Furthermore, self-concept motivation develops from an individual being primarily inner-directed whereby personal surroundings and internal standards are the source for ideal self (Bernstein, 2010).
Motivation and Behaviors
Motivation determines the goals that individuals strive to achieve and the choices they will make. As Sorrentino & Higgins (1996) explain, individuals desire to achieve competence and avoid ineptitude due to their desire to triumph. This is the basis of the achievement motivation theory. Consequently, this theory attributes that a significant determinant in attainment behavior in people is their desire to thrive and avoid failure. Thus, motivation boosts the level of effort and energy that are directly linked to the processes that will result in the achievement of the goals that individuals want to achieve. For instance, group behavior is predisposed by the sentiments that are being expressed, as well as the generally adequate behavior for that occurrence (Bernstein, 2010).
Most notably, once the option to fulfill a motive is made the effectiveness of that preference is observed via instrumental behavior. This is the behavior intended to please a motive (Bernstein, 2010). Furthermore, subjective stances of contentment that can add to the effectiveness of a preference of motives facilitate more collective will. On the contrary, a free deed is an action that is exhibited without motivation since the capacity to do otherwise is the foundation the stone of free acts.
However, determined acts are an outcome of causal motivation. Despite the fact that individuals may not have the capacity to take action outside the controls of motivation, they will still possess the free will to decide which certain motives to carry out. Therefore, determined actions that are controlled by motivation, function within a structure of free will and are adjudicated by choice. Moreover, cognitive theories recognize motivation as being goal-directed, while on the other hand, they view individual motivation as the personal efforts by individuals to attain particular personal goals (Shah & Gardner, 2008).
How Behavior Exhibits Motivation
Motivation helps an individual to exhibit an essential effort that upholds that effort extensively to accomplish his/her set goals and objectives. Furthermore, motivation helps an individual to reflect more deeply regarding the issues that might be affecting them hence enabling them to employ a more detailed process to complete a task in an effective and efficient manner. Behavior exhibits motivation when an encounter triumphs in the process of attaining their goals. This can be in the form of instrumental behavior, a sense of prejudiced satisfaction (Bernstein, 2010). Nevertheless, the preference to take action on one domain of motivation, does not explicate the foundation of the motivation at hand. Several factors can motivate an individual. According to Bernstein (2010), motivation can be as a result of the environment, motives, peripheral incentives, psychological desires, and cognitive factors. Behavior demonstrates motivation through goal internalization especially when individuals perform certain acts or develop certain attitudes owing to their predefined value system. Thus, when a person believes in a cause, he/she will be willing to labor towards the objectives of the structure aiding the cause (Shah & Gardner, 2008).
Conclusion
This paper has defined motivation to be the reasons that brings about behaviors that are characterized by eagerness and volition. In particular, motivation entails a combination of closely linked beliefs, discernments, values, welfares, and actions. Motivation is a bar for leveraging motives in addition to being the incentive that brings about behavior. In this fashion, a diminutive psychological intention can be applied to bring about an extensive behavior.
References
Bernstein, D. (2010). Essentials of Psychology. Boston: Cengage Learning
Shah, J. Y., & Gardner, W. L. (2008). Handbook of Motivation Science. New York: Guilford Press.
Sorrentino, R. M., & Higgins, E. T. (1996). Handbook of Motivation and Cognition: Foundations of Social Behavior. New York: Guilford Press.