What is motivation?
In simple terms, motivation may be defined as the reason/s for exhibiting a particular kind of behavior, especially human behavior as dealt with in psychology and neuropsychology. The reasons are manifold ranging from basic needs like food, any desired object or a particular goal, an ideal or state of being to less-apparent ones like altruism or morality.
Green defined motivation as the initiation, direction, intensity and persistence of human behavior. Motivation has also been defined in psychology textbooks as internal state or condition that activates behavior and gives it direction; desire or want that energizes and directs goal-oriented behavior and influence of needs and desires on the intensity and direction of behavior. From all these definitions it can be concluded that motivation is basically an internal state of our mind (a need or desire or want) that sets in motion and channelizes our behavioral pattern.
In 1994, Franken added an interesting element to the definition of motivation: the arousal, direction, and persistence of behavior.
Researchers now feel that the factors activating our behavior are not the same as those that provide for its persistence. However, this finding is still in its infancy stage and is expected to gain currency in the future.
Reward and reinforcement as agents for motivating people?
Post an action (i.e. behavior) a reward, either tangible or intangible is given so as to get assured that the action will be repeated in the future. Research has shown that the effect of the reward is directly proportional to it duration – the sooner a person receives the award, the greater will be the effect which gradually diminishes with the increase of time span between the action and the reward. The recurrence of this process of action-reward combination helps to transform the action into a habit.
A reinforce is essentially different from a reward because it has the effect of enhancing a desirable behavior up to a measured level by adding something to the environment.
The rewards can either be extrinsic such as compliments or money as well as intrinsic like satisfaction or accomplishment.
Intrinsic motivation has often been divided into two groups by some authors – one based enjoyment and the other on obligation. The later implies to a kind of motivation that is based on what one thinks should be done. For example, one may work for a mission simply guided by his sense of responsibility without the help of external factors like reward or a sense of fun and enjoyment.