Understanding Motivation
Motivation is what pushes us to do and accomplish both the things we want and need to do, from going to school or work, to spending time with friends and loved ones, and enjoying our hobbies. Many times, our motivation is not something we are consciously aware of, especially when it comes to thinking about how we are motivated.
There are two main types of motivation: extrinsic and intrinsic.
Extrinsic Motivation
Extrinsic motivation consists of outside rewards that drive us. The primary example of this that many of us see in our daily lives is going to work. Many, but not all, of us are driven to go to work and continue working for a paycheck.
In sports, we may be motivated to play or participate for a trophy at the end of the season. We may continue to shop at one store or use a particular credit card for their rewards and loyalty programs. There are many outside sources that provide rewards of some kind to motivate us to engage in certain behaviors.
Intrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic motivation consists of rewards that come from within us to start or continue engaging in a certain activity or behavior. With intrinsic motivation, the reward is solely from the challenge, enjoyment, or satisfaction we receive when accomplishing a task or engaging in a certain behavior (Nickerson 2021).
For example, helping a friend or even a stranger while expecting no reward because we value being friendly or helpful. As children (or adults), we might play our favorite game or go outside to run around just because it brings us joy and happiness. Completing a puzzle or learning how to play a new song on an instrument may be challenging, but we are intrinsically motivated to accomplish the task for the satisfaction of doing so at the end. Many goals we set for ourselves are done for the feeling of self-fulfillment and personal satisfaction, rather than for a monetary reward or to avoid punishment.
Combining Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation
Although they may sound like opposites, extrinsic and intrinsic motivation are not mutually exclusive. For example, someone may be motivated by both the extrinsic motivator of money and the intrinsic motivator of personal fulfillment and joy in their job.
The effects of each motivator may also change over time. However, the two types do have differences outside of the types of rewards and the source of the motivation. Intrinsic motivation may increase self-motivation and allow one to work towards a task or goal for a longer period. Extrinsic motivation can assist in social learning, including learning new behaviors, and allow individuals to complete necessary tasks that would otherwise hold little interest.
Although intrinsic motivation can provide long-lasting changes, these changes can often be slow. Conversely, although the changes brought about by extrinsic motivation may be faster, removing the external reward can result in a loss of motivation and stop—or even reverse—any progress made towards that goal or behavioral change.
Works Cited:
Nickerson, C. (2021, Dec 01). Differences of Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation. Simply Psychology. www.simplypsychology.org/differences-between-extrinsic-and-intrinsic-motivation..html
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