What is Motivation in Psychology?

Motivation is the reason for people's actions, willingness, and goals. The word ‘motivation’ is derived from the word motive that is defined as a need that requires satisfaction. These needs can be the desire or want which is influences by the culture, environment, lifestyle, or innate. Motivation is something that keeps us going, that pushes us to reach our full potential. There are many factors like biological, social, emotional, etc. that plays an important role in how we behave or act or do in our life. Scientists believe that the hypothalamus plays an important role in motivation. It provides a physical basis for pleasure in humans thus leading to goal-oriented behavior.

One of the foundations of learning about motivation is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. It says every human has innate motivation so that they can reach their full potential, that is self-actualization. They start by completing the physiological needs that is hunger, thirst, rest, then security needs which is shelter, food, safe they jump to higher-level needs i.e. a sense of belongingness that is love, support, care, intimacy, the family then esteem needs, that is self-esteem, accomplishment, respect, recognition, etc. and at last self-actualization, here they achieve their full potential, they strive hard to become the best they can be. And according to him, the lower level should be fulfilled and after that only they can go for higher ones.

Types of motivation:

Motivation can either be classified into intrinsic or extrinsic.

Intrinsic motivation:

It is that motivation that arises from within the individual. It is driven by internal rewards rather than external. You do it for yourself, not because of some pressure or incentive. There is no greed here. You are internally driven to accomplish things. For example, you want to be a therapist as you are fascinated by it not because someone wants you to do it, completing homework as you find it interesting not because of parental pressure.

Extrinsic motivation:

As the name suggests, this is the kind of motivation that arises from outside of the individual such as rewards, appraisal, and incentives. You are driven by external factors. You are going for things because you are reinforced. For example, you are pursuing engineering because your parents would reward you or pressure also can play a role in this kind of motivation. You can do it for name and fame or money etc.