Psy 355 - Motivational Process in Human Psychology

Sources of Motivation

PSY355/Motivational Process in Human Psychology

13 March 2012

Instructor Name

SOURCES OF MOTIVATION

The word motivation has many meanings to many different people. What does the word motivation mean to you? For the purpose of this essay, in psychology, motivation is a process that initiates and perpetuates a behavior of ambition or intent to fulfill a purpose. It's an act of cause and effect. For example, after running a mile and a half, the feeling of being thirsty would motivate one get a bottle of water. According to the BusinessDictionary.com, the definition of motivation is, "Internal and external factors that stimulate desire and energy in people to be continually interested in and committed to a job, role, or subject, and to exert persistent effort in attaining a goal. Motivation results from the interactions among conscious and unconscious factors such as (1) intensity of desire or need, (2) incentive or reward value of the goal, and (3) expectations of the individual and of his or her significant others." In a nutshell, certain factors arouse motivation.

Motivation stems from different variables or sources that direct a sequence of events that moves one into what we define as the act that drives or arouse motivation. One source is called the internal source. Internal sources involve a person's biological and psychological variable. "Biological variables refer to material characteristics of the body and brain that serve to motivate behavior (Deckers, L. 2010, p.8)" This involves satisfying the needs of one's personal body such as thirst, hunger, safety, sex, or any other physical need for example. Psychological variables refer to one's own personal motives. These motives can either create stimulation or be of the social nature. These are specific to each individual. Personal motives are known to be linked to some form of incentive. A psychological source varies from physiological needs, the need to belong or affiliate with a certain group, and the need to improve or achieve.

The second source is known as the external source. External sources are the incentives and goals that involve environmental variables. These variables refer to the incentives that attract an individual to participate in behaviors that are of great value. For example, a person who believes they are overweight has a goal to look a certain way or fit into a favorite pair of jeans. This person would participate in behaviors such as dietary eating and exercise. These behaviors will produce a physical incentive that would bring pleasure; the pleasure of looking great in that favorite pair of jeans after losing a certain amount of weight.

Internal