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- DictionaryMo·ti·va·tion/ˌmōdəˈvāSH(ə)n/
noun
- 1. the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way: "escape can be a strong motivation for travel"
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Learn the meaning of motivation as a noun, with synonyms, examples, and word history. Find out how to use motivation in a sentence and explore related words and topics.
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- Physiological, psychological, and philosophical approaches
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motivation, forces acting either on or within a person to initiate behaviour. The word is derived from the Latin term motivus (“a moving cause”), which suggests the activating properties of the processes involved in psychological motivation.
Psychologists study motivational forces to help explain observed changes in behaviour that occur in an individual. Thus, for example, the observation that a person is increasingly likely to open the refrigerator door to look for food as the number of hours since the last meal increases can be understood by invoking the concept of motivation. As the above example suggests, motivation is not typically measured directly but rather inferred as the result of behavioral changes in reaction to internal or external stimuli. It is also important to understand that motivation is primarily a performance variable. That is, the effects of changes in motivation are often temporary. An individual, highly motivated to perform a particular task because of a motivational change, may later show little interest for that task as a result of further change in motivation.
Motives are often categorized into primary, or basic, motives, which are unlearned and common to both animals and humans; and secondary, or learned, motives, which can differ from animal to animal and person to person. Primary motives are thought to include hunger, thirst, sex, avoidance of pain, and perhaps aggression and fear. Secondary motives typically studied in humans include achievement, power motivation, and numerous other specialized motives.
Motives have also sometimes been classified into “pushes” and “pulls.” Push motives concern internal changes that have the effect of triggering specific motive states. Pull motives represent external goals that influence one’s behaviour toward them. Most motivational situations are in reality a combination of push and pull conditions. For example, hunger, in part, may be signaled by internal changes in blood glucose or fat stores, but motivation to eat is also heavily influenced by what foods are available. Some foods are more desirable than others and exert an influence on our behaviour toward them. Behaviour is, thus, often a complex blend of internal pushes and external pulls.
Motivation has been studied in a variety of ways. For instance, it has been analyzed at the physiological level using electrical and chemical stimulation of the brain, the recording of electrical brain-wave activity with the electroencephalograph, and lesion techniques, where a portion of the brain (usually of a laboratory animal) is destroyed and subsequent changes in motivation are noted. Physiological studies performed primarily on animals other than humans have demonstrated the importance of certain brain structures in the control of basic motives such as hunger, thirst, sex, aggression, and fear.
Motivation may also be analyzed at the individual psychological level. Such analyses attempt to understand why people act in particular ways and seek to draw general conclusions from individual cases. Through studies of individuals, for example, it has been found that both men and women proceed through a series of identifiable stages of arousal during behaviours leading to and culminating in sexual intercourse. The finding may be applied to people in general.
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Motivation of an individual is also influenced by the presence of other people. Social psychologists have been active in discovering how the presence of others in a given situation influences motivation. For example, students and teachers behave in predictable ways in the classroom. Those behaviours are often quite different, however, from the way students and teachers behave outside the classroom. Studies of conformity, obedience, and helping behaviours (which benefit others without reward) are three areas in this field that have received considerable attention.
Finally, motivation is sometimes also approached from a more philosophical direction. That is, analyses of motivation are understood, at least in part, by examining the particular philosophical point of view espoused by the theorist. For example, some motivational theorists conceive motivation to be an aversive state: one to be avoided. Sigmund Freud’s view of motivational processes could be applied within this framework; his contention that blocked sexual energy could be displaced into acceptable behaviours implies that accumulation of sexual energy (motivation) is aversive. Other theorists see motivation as a much more positive experience. That is, motivation can produce behaviours that lead to increases in future motivation. The American psychologist Abraham H. Maslow’s concept of self-actualization could be applied within this framework (see below Self-actualization).
Motivation is the force that initiates behaviour in response to internal or external stimuli. Learn about the different types, theories, and methods of studying motivation from Britannica's experts.
Motivation is the desire to act in service of a goal. Learn about the sources, types, and strategies of motivation, and how to set and accomplish goals in different domains of life.
- Where does motivation come from?Motivation can stem from a variety of sources. People may be motivated by external incentives, such as the motivation to work for compensation, or...
- What is intrinsic motivation?Intrinsic motivation is a drive that comes purely from within; it’s not due to any anticipated reward, deadline, or outside pressure. For example,...
- What is extrinsic motivation?Extrinsic motivation is any reason someone does work other than the joy of doing the work itself. Anything promised for completing the task or rece...
- How should I set my goals?Failing to accomplish a goal is sometimes due to the way it was set. But a few psychological tricks can help set and reach those goals. One is to...
- How do I build momentum?Motivation targets the “why” of change, but momentum targets the “how.” Generating momentum is pivotal for taking the concrete steps needed to sh...
- How do I persevere through difficult tasks?It’s natural to feel stuck at certain points, especially when working through difficult tasks. But research suggests that several strategies can...
- How do I accomplish my goals?Tracking progress is key to sustaining motivation and achieving your goals. It’s helpful to make progress visual and concrete, such as by writing...
- How can I feel more motivated?Sometimes you might feel completely unmotivated —and that’s ok. In that situation, allow yourself to feel the discomfort, hear the negative self-...
- How can I stop procrastinating?Procrastination is often driven by underlying feelings of distress or anxiety elicited by a given task. But there are ways to navigate the disc...
May 3, 2023 · Motivation is the driving force behind human actions that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behaviors. Learn about the types, components, importance, and improvement of motivation, as well as the theories that explain it.
the state or condition of being motivated or having a strong reason to act or accomplish something: We know that these students have strong motivation to learn. something that motivates; inducement; incentive: Clearly, the company's long-term motivation is profit.
Learn the meaning of motivation as enthusiasm or reason for doing something, with examples from literature, business and everyday life. Find out how to use motivation in a sentence and explore related words and phrases.
Motivation is an internal state that propels individuals to engage in goal -directed behavior. It is often understood as a force that explains why people or animals initiate, continue, or terminate a certain behavior at a particular time. It is a complex phenomenon and its precise definition is disputed.
