Motivation 2021
Motivation 2021
The word ‘motivation’ has its origin in the Latin word ‘movere,’ meaning "to
move." Psychologically, it means an inner or environmental stimulus to
action, forces or the factors that are responsible for initiation, sustaining
(and restraining/abstaining from) behaviour, motivations may be diverse,
multiple and dynamic.
Meaning and concept-
Motivation is the process of initiating a conscious and purposeful action
Motive means an urge (drive or force) or combination of urges, to induce
conscious or purposeful action.
Motivation is a goal directed and need satisfying behavior. It explains why
people do the things they do. It influences a person to do a thing in a certain
way.
Motive is something (a need or desire) that causes a person to act.
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Needs may be divided into two broad catagories- 1)biological needs
2)socio-psychological needs
The term ‘motive’ refers to goal directed behaviour and energising
conditions within the organism that drive behaviour. It is generally used to
refer to certain conditions which, besides arousing, predispose a person to
respond, or behave in a way appropriate to that motive. Motives direct the
activity of the individual towards person’s goals.
(b) Goals
Thinking about the goal motivates a person to organize his or her action. If
hunger is a need, eating food is a goal. Thus goal is related to the need
state. However, in certain cases, behaviour is also guided by intrinsic goals.
It means behaviour does not always need external goal. It may be satisfying
and enjoyable in itself. Some people may like to sing, dance or play just for
the sake of singing, dancing or playing. They like such activities. Thus goals
can be intrinsic or extrinsic.
(c) Incentives
Incentives refers to the goal objects which satisfy the needs. Incentives vary
in quality and quantity which make them less or more satisfying and
attractive. Thus one can put in greater amount of effort to attain a more
attractive incentive. As a matter of fact many incentives assume
considerable significance in the lives of people and they do every thing
possible to attain those incentives.
(d) Instincts
Instinct is an old concept in the field of motivation. It is defined as an innate
biological force that predisposes the organism to act in a certain way. At one
time all behaviours were supposed to be results of certain instincts. Some of
the instincts identified by early psychologists are fight, repulsion, curiosity,
self abasement, acquisition etc. It was thought that instincts were inherited
and compelling sources of conduct, but can be modified by learning and
experience. This term is no more used in relation to human behaviour.
Animal behaviour is sometimes explained using this term. In current usage
'instinct' is reserved for innate response tendencies found among animals.
Definitions:
Motivation may be defined as goal seeking or goal directed behavior or
activity. Behavior is a function of the person, which is interaction within a
situation
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Motivation is also defined as a stage of the organism in which bodily energy
is mobilized and selectively directed towards parts of the environment
This definition breaks in to two parts:1. Mobilization of bodily energy or drive
and 2. Direction
“Motivation means a process of stimulating people to action to accomplish
desired goods.” —William G. Scott
Features of motivation
Following are the outstanding Features of the concept of motivation:
1. Motivation is a personal and internal feeling:
Motivation is a psychological phenomenon which generates within an
individual.
2. Motivation is need based or goal oriented
If there are no needs of an individual, the process of motivation fails. It is a
behavioural concept that directs human behaviour towards certain goals.
3. Motivation is a continuous process:
Because human wants are unlimited, therefore motivation is an ongoing
process.
4. Motivation may be positive or negative:
A positive motivation promotes incentives to people while a negative
motivation threatens the enforcement of disincentives.
5. Motivation is a planned process:
People differ in their approach, to respond to the process of motivation; as
no two individuals could be motivated in an exactly similar manner.
Accordingly, motivation is a psychological concept and a complex process.
Objectives of Motivation
i) to encourage a learner in his learning activities.
(E.g.) Prizes, Medals
ii) to act as selectors of the type of activity in while the person desire to
engage.
(E.g.) Selection of courses
iii) Motives to direct and regulate behaviour.
(E.g.) Discipline in school etc.
Process of Motivation: It involves four steps:
1. Motive
2. Behaviour
3. Goal
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4. Feedback
Motive: It indicates the inner state of mind that energizes, activates or
moves a person and directs his behavior towards goals.
Behaviour: Behaviour is the sum of various activities and attitudes of a
person
Goals: Motives generally create a state of disequilibrium physiological or
psychological imbalances within the individual. Attaining the goal restores
this balance.
Feedback: the system of feedback is important to understand and analyze
the motives, behavior, goals and incentives for motivation
Classification of Needs
i). The desire for security : Economic, social, psychological and spiritual
security. Man wants protection for his physical being food, clothing and
shelter. It may also mean an adequate reserve of wealth to secure more
material things in the future. The wish for security may also be satisfied by
spiritual beliefs. In fact, in history whole cultures have put emphasis on
security.
ii). The desire for affection or response : Companionship gregariousness,
and social mindedness, the need for a feeling of belonging.
iii). The desire for recognition : Status, prestige, achievement and being
looked up to Each individual feels the need to be considered important by
his fellowmen.
iv). The desire for new experience : adventure, new interests, new ideas,
new friends and new ways of doing things. Some people primarily want the
thrill of something new, something different.
v. Organic needs : Organic needs like sex, hunger and thirstiness are also
very important for human beings.
The above five categories represent all the powerful motivating forces
stated in general.
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Intrinsic – self generated factors (responsibility, freedom to act, scope
to use and develop skills and abilities, interesting and challenging work,
opportunities for advancement) – they have a deeper and longer-term effect
Extrinsic – what is done for people to motivate them (rewards,
promotion, punishment) – they have an immediate and powerful effect, but
won’t necessarily last long
In other words: Intrinsic motivation comes from a person’s internal desire to
do something. Reasons may be that a particular activity gives him or her
pleasure, helps to develop a particular skill of seems to be the right thing to
do in moral / ethical terms. Extrinsic motivation is generated by external
factors that are less related to the particular task.
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Most people have a strong desire to achieve social approval. For this,
they try to improve their personality through clothes, possession of things,
knowledge, skills etc.,
vi) Others
Habit: Somebody has settled practice, especially something that
cannot easily be given up.
Established habit becomes almost automatic and requires only a
stimulus to set it in action.
Objective environment: People act differently in different situations.
The objective environment produces a 'set' of 'readiness' to respond in a
particular way.
Van den Ban and Hawkins (1988) suggested the following techniques for
influencing human behavior in a social system.
Compulsion
In this case, power is exerted by an authority, forcing the farmers or
people to do something. Certain laws and legal provisions come in this
category. For example, our government can give appropriate directions that
the farmers must grow eco-friendly tree species for the protection of
environment and soil erosion.
This method can also be used in preventing the farmers from taking rotation
like wheatrice rotation in Punjab, Haryana etc. But this method is not
suitable for changing the behaviour which requires initiation on the part of
the people.
Exchange
In this method, goods or services are exchanged between the two
individuals / parties or organizations. For instance, state government can
motivate the farmers to grow multi-purpose tree species by providing
marginal land free of cost or at minimal charges through a mechanism of
mutual benefit sharing.
Advice
In this method of influencing the behaviour, advice is given for choosing
solution to a problem. But the extension worker must have adequate
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information about the farmers’ problems and their solutions. The farmers
should also have confidence in the competency of the extension worker
besides sufficient means at their disposal to follow the advice.
Openly influencing a farmer’s knowledge and attitude
This method may be used when we believe that the farmers can not solve
their own problems due to insufficient or incorrect knowledge or unmatched
attitude with their goals. Farmers should trust our expertise and motives and
must be prepared to cooperate with us in our task of changing their
knowledge or attitudes. Long term behavioural changes are possible by
using this method. Moreover, farmers’ self confidence and capacity to solve
other similar problems by themselves in future are increased.
Manipulation
In this case, the farmers’ knowledge level and attitude are influenced
without their being aware of it. This method is used when we believe that it
is necessary and desirable for the farmers to change their behaviour in a
certain direction. The farmers should not actively object to being influenced
in this way and we think that it is unnecessary or undesirable for the farmers
to make independent decisions. For example, by showing the documentary
on ‘Deforestation and environmental degradation’, we may motivate the
farmers indirectly for afforestation, ie manipulating them to grow more trees.
This method can also be used for promoting the adoption of technology
Theories of motivation
Theories of motivation- Drive theories, Incentive theories, Opponent
process theory, optimal level theories. Instinct theories, Need
hierarchy theory. Theory of achievement motivation.
Drive theories
These may be described as push theory of motivation. Drive theory explain
Drive-Reduction--internal tensions “push” toward satisfying basic needs
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Incentive theory
Two types of incentives- a) Intrinsic b) Extrinsic
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Opponent-Process Theory
Richard Solomon (1980) has developed a theory of
motivation/emotion that views emotions as pairs of opposites (for example,
fear-relief, pleasure-pain). The opponent-process theory states that when
one emotion is experienced, the other is suppressed. For example, if you
are frightened by a mean dog, the emotion of fear is expressed and relief is
suppressed. If the fear-causing stimulus continues to be present, after a
while the fear decreases and the relief intensifies.
For example, if the dog didn't move, your fear would decrease and relief that
the dog didn't attack would increase. If the stimulus is no longer present,
then the first emotion disappears and is replaced totally with the second
emotion. If the dog turns and runs, you are no longer afraid, but rather feel
very relieved.
Solomon and Corbit (1974) analyzed the emotions present when skydivers
jump from planes. Beginners experience extreme fear as they jump, which
is replaced by great relief when they land. With repeated jumps, the fear
decreases and the post-jump pleasure increases. This process may explain
a variety of thrill-seeking behaviors. It has also been proposed as a model of
drug addiction. The drug initially produces pleasurable feelings, but then a
negative emotional experience occurs. Eventually, the drug user takes
drugs not for their pleasurable effects, but to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
The opponent-process theory is an attempt to link emotional states with
motivation. Although it is an intriguing idea, some researchers have not
found support for the opponent-process theory.
Optimal-level Theory:
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This is also called as theory of homeostasis. Claud
Bernard coined the word homeostasis to explain the state of equilibrium in
the body. This is a ‘hedonistic’ (hedonism- doctrine that happiness is the
highest good) theory which says that, there is a certain optimal level for
normal functioning of the body.
Maintenance of optimal level leads to equilibrium which gives pleasure.
Disequilibrium leads to displeasure. Hence, every individual strives to avoid
disequilibrium by maintaining optimal level of the needs like food, water,
body temperature, etc.
This theory which has been explained by Sigmund Freud, deals with
unconscious motivation. According to Freud, the inborn tendencies called
instincts influence our behaviour.
There are two groups of instincts with opposite nature:
(a) Life instincts (Eros): these instincts have the life energy called Libido-
which motivates the individual towards constructive activities like love,
sympathy/helping others, etc.
(b) Death instincts (Thanatos)-motivate the individual for destructive
activities like murder, suicides, aggression, attack, etc.
Freud has emphasised that the unconscious motives play more dominant
role in determining our behaviour, than conscious or preconscious. He
pointed that, our actions are determined by our unconscious motives.
According to him, our unconscious mannerisms, slips of tongue and pen,
phobias are the result of these hidden motives. These hidden motives may
also drive the people towards various psychosomatic disorders like chronic
headaches, insomnia, gastric troubles, etc. Our motives also appear in the
form of dreams according to Freud
The Needs (content) Theory
All Needs theories focus on specific needs people want to satisfy.
There are several theories that explain motivation as a result of these
needs.
The underlying concept is the belief that an unsatisfied need creates
tension and a state of disequilibrium. To restore balance, a goal is
identified that will satisfy the need and a behavior pathway to this goal
is selected.
All behavior is motivated by unsatisfied needs.
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People will be better motivated if their work experience satisfies their
needs and wants.
Needs theories distinguish between primary needs, such as food,
sleep and other biological needs, and secondary psychological needs
that are learned and vary by culture and by individual.
Maslows hierarchy of needs
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critical that individuals have all three types of goals in order to be very
successful.
One aspect of this theory is that individuals are motivated to either avoid
failure (more often associated with performance goals) or achieve success
(more often associated with mastery goals). In the former situation, the
individual is more likely to select easy or difficult tasks, thereby either
achieving success or having a good excuse for why failure occurred. In the
latter situation, the individual is more likely to select moderately difficult
tasks which will provide an interesting challenge, but still keep the high
expectations for success.
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