Motivation

Motivation is a set of factors that activate, direct, and maintain behavior, usually towards a goal. Researches have developed six theories that explain how and why people are motivated to do what ever it is that we all do, whether it be tying our shoes, or eating dinner. The Instinct, Drive-reduction, and arousal theories are all biologically related. The instinct theory says that some behavioral patterns are un-learned, we are just born with them. The drive-reduction theory is based on the concept of homeostasis. When a biological need is unmet, drive is created to eliminate that need and return back to normal (homeostasis). The arousal theory states that organisms try to reach and maintain an optimal level of arousal that maximizes their performance. The incentive theory goes beyond our biological motivation. Not components in our body, but external stimuli motivate people to achieve goals, or avoid unpleasant events. Another theory is the humanistic theory, consisting of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs which says that some motives must be met before going on to higher needs, and that we all have a need to grow, improve ourselves, and become self-actualized. One more theory is the cognitive theory in which motivation results from people’s thoughts, expectations, and goals. Everything that we do is a result of motivation. If we were not motivated to do anything, we would sit in a chair all day until we died from not eating and drinking. Well actually, something would have motivated us to sit in a chair and do nothing. So yes, EVERYTHING that we do comes from motivation. Right now, I am motivated to finish this essay and hand it in on time so that I can get a good grade and not fail the class. This is the incentive theory, and extrinsic motivation since I want to get a good grade as a reward, its not that I enjoy writing essays, but if I do well I have a chance of passing the class. I have carefully observed three different situations involving human beings living their normal lives, and evaluated the types of motivation involved with their behaviors. The first situation I will explain is one that I am very familiar with. It is more of an ongoing situation rather than an event at a specific point in time. I have excellent neighbors, who are very close family friends. There are two young kids. Christopher is the eight year old daredevil trouble maker who idolizes, and takes after me. Peter is the older, more laid back ten year old brother. For Christmas, their father bought them each their own quads (ATV’s). Ever since then, I have been watching them mature and progress at riding these quads, as well as destroying our lawn. Being able to ride these quads is a privilege for them, and involves many different aspects of motivation. These kids have grown up and watched me ride my quads and dirt bikes since they were three and five years of age. They would stand outside and watch me for hours, wishing that someday it would be them riding one. I used to take them on mine every once and a while, and they fell in love with riding. Now that they have them, they are so eager to ride all of the time, that their father uses the quads as a form of reward, punishment, safety, and control over the kids. If they do well in school, obey their parents, and follow the rules, they are allowed to ride all day on the weekends. However, if something bad happens in school, or they refuse to go to bed, or if they get in a fight with each other, or if they are riding unsafely they are not allowed to ride their quads on the weekend. And believe me, this is cruel for them, especially when one brother is allowed to ride and the other one has to stand around and watch. The kids are motivated in so many different ways to ride these quads because it involves motivation to behave, to do well in school, to follow rules, to obey their parents, and of course to ride! Their motivation to behave properly and follow rules at home and in school fits under the incentive theory, since they are receiving an award (the ability to ride) as a result of their good behavior. The motivation is extrinsic since they do not necessarily receive personal enjoyment in behaving properly and following rules. The personal enjoyment is in riding their quads, which would be intrinsic motivation. You can tell how much they love those things just by seeing the huge smiles on their faces and their wide open eyes. Riding the quads is also incentive motivation, when they ride they are achieving the goal that they have worked hard for all week. Another situation I have witnessed involving people actively engaged in motivation took place in my house. My parents were preparing the house for overnight guests who do not visit often.  My mother and father each had very different approaches to prepare for the visitors.  The way that each of them behaved in this situation represented different motivational behaviors.   When it came to cleaning they had very different ideas of what “clean” was, and how deep to go.  My mom gets into these crazy cleaning modes, and insisted that every speck of dust and every dog hair, from the tiniest nooks and crannies had to be cleaned away.  My dad was much more relaxed about this like always.  He felt the house was clean enough and he encouraged my mom to relax and just enjoy the company. He would say anything to get out of having to clean.  My mom was motivated by a secondary drive, since through past experience, she learned that you need to clean a house in a certain way for company.  Her motivation to make the house spic and span was high.  My dad’s motivation to clean was low, he just cared about keeping my mom from going crazy and screaming. My mom spent hours looking for things that needed to be done.  She ran around from one room to the next with a bottle of Windex, a can of Pledge, and several cleaning rags.  My dad, however, took his time, and did not look for things to be cleaned.  He waited for mom to point out what needed to be done next.  It is funny watching the two of them bicker. He had the Red Sox game on in the background and kept coming back to the couch to check out the score.   My mothers motivation to have a clean house fits under the incentive (achieving the goal of finally getting the house clean) and cognitive (meeting the expectations of the guests) theory. My dad was motivated by his desire to please my mom, or at least to keep her calm. In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (humanistic theory), my father was motivated by love and belonging. He wanted to please my mom, since when he made her happy, they were both happy and the only way to make her happy was to do what she told him and clean. The final situation that I will talk about occurred on a basketball court in Middlefield. My girlfriend and I were sitting on a bench watching my buddies play basketball. A lot was going on in this game involving motivation. For one, the kids were outside in the sun on a very hot day, playing basketball. They were motivated to play under the incentive theory, since they enjoy playing, and it is a reward for them, and a goal to get better. It is intrinsic motivation since they enjoy what they are doing, otherwise they would not be out on the court playing on such a hot day. Its not like they are getting paid or anything, they’re just out having some fun. During the game someone passed the ball very hard and completely missed the guy he was passing it to. The ball came directly toward us, sitting on the bench. My girlfriend immediately ducked and covered her head, rather than trying to either get out of the way or catch it. Her motivation to duck and cover her head was an instinct motivation. Since it occurred so fast she did not have time to think about what to do, but her instincts directed her to duck and protect when there’s an object flying her way. The ball did not hit her, but might have if she had not crouched down. After observing three different situations, it was easy to see many different modes of motivation involving young children, to teenagers, to full grown adults. From connecting the situations with the material I have learned from the book and classes, I understand what motivation is, where it comes from, and why people are motivated.