Motivation
Instinct Theory. According to the oldest motivational theory on the books, organisms behave as they do because they are following a set of biologically pre-programmed instinctual urges. Like birds and bees, humans are enacting a set of behaviors hardwired into our neural circuitry. This theory is undoubtedly too simple to apply to humans, much less birds and bees. However, inner needs must be part of the equation in understanding our behavior.
Drive Reduction Theory. This next approach to motivation proposes that organisms large and small, simple to complex, prefer the state of homeostasis in which all of their needs are fulfilled. Their drives must be reduced. Everyone might have a different definition of homeostasis, perhaps yours is sleeping late on a weekend morning, or having a drink in a cozy chair. Drive reduction theory's critics agree that it's great to have your needs met, at least some of the time. However, if the theory were true, no one would ever seek out fun, excitement, spontanaeity. No one would go bungee jumping or run for election.
Arousal Theory. At the opposite pole of drive reduction, arousal theory proposes that we seek to increase, not decrease, our level of stimulation. We want the high that accompanies a rush of endorphins when we push ourselves physically or mentally. Animals as well as humans get bored from too much homeostasis. However, too much arousal can also thwart our ability to achieve our goals.
The Yerkes-Dodson Law proposes that we each function according to an optimum level of arousal. You might consider this a Goldilocks principle of motivation. If you're too sleepy or too nervous, you'll invariably perform poorly, whether giving a speech, shooting a basketball or working with Congress. Every individual, and each task, has its own peak between arousal that is too low and arousal that is too intense. Once you find your optimum level of arousal, your performance will be both flawless and enjoyable.
Incentive Theory. Our behavior may also be determined by forces that propel us to do something we otherwise would not. Incentive theory is the basic principle behind marketing.
A good marketing strategy will cause you to want something you neither have nor think you need. It's like those catalogs that fall out of your mailbox during the holiday season and the emails that clutter up your inbox offering unbelievable deals. Retailers are hoping that you will go after the products that they put out in front of you. Similarly, grocery, convenience, and large-scale retail clothing stores place their little but often expensive temptations where they are bound to have the most impact, namely, while you're waiting to check out. An item that you would have given no thought to now becomes a handy little impulse purchase that you toss into your bag or cart. Adding to the draw of the impulse purchase is the fact that you may feel you deserve a treat, having practiced extreme self-restraint throughout the rest of your shopping expedition, an ego depletion.
Cognitive Theory. Moving from simple conditioning to the realm of behavior controlled by thoughts, the cognitive theory of motivation proposes that our expectations guide our behavior. You'll behave in ways that you think will produce a desirable outcome. Cognitive theory proposes that we have two types of motivation, intrinsic and extrinsic.
Intrinsic motivation is what drives us to fulfill our inner potential and interests. Your intrinsic motivation is your desire to express your true self in your behavior, at work or leisure. What's more, when you are driven by intrinsic motivation, you feel that you are determining the outcomes of your efforts.
Extrinsic motivation, by contrast, is your desire to achieve tangible rewards such as money or the glory that comes with status and recognition. Developers propose people who receive extrinsic rewards for behaviors they find intrinsically satisfying become less creative and productive.
This has the picturesque name of motivational crowding out. The extrinsic rewards of money, fame, and recognition crowd out the intrinsic satisfaction that you experience from doing something because you really like to do it. The motivational crowding out idea has some obvious flaws. Managers could use this theory to pay workers less or deny them promotions.
"Why should we pay you more, or at all? You'll be less creative and not more productive!”
This problem led to a revision in the theory which is called ...
Self-Determination Theory. With the obvious flaw in cognitive theory, it became clear that work motivation defined to incorporate intrinsic and extrinsic sources of motivation.
Self determination theory proposes that you can have a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation driving your work-related and other behavior. The most satisfying activities you can engage in, the ones that will motivate you the most, are those that allow you to feel most in control of your behavior. You can be motivated by the mundane satisfaction provided by extrinsic rewards, but the more autonomy you feel, the more self-directed you'll be, and the most satisfied you'll be in your work. Being able to express your inner motives and get paid at the same time is a hard combination to beat. The problem for many is they feel their work behavior is controlled by factors outside of their own inner self-determination. It's that feeling of external control that leads to job discontent and stagnation. The remedy to this problem is to find ways to express your autonomy, even if it's only in a few minor ways.
Self-Actualization Theory. At the very pinnacle of motivation, self-actualization theory proposes that we are most motivated to realize our own inner potential. According to Maslow, self-actualization is the true realization of your inner potential, whatever that is. Self-actualization is not a state of complete perfection. He proposed self-actualization is a continual process of becoming. After you have satisfied your lower-order needs, says the theory, you can self-actualize. Wrongly translated into the expression,
"A hungry poet cannot write."
However, as we all know, hungry poets do write. In fact, many people will set aside physical needs, safety, and even positive regard from others in order to fulfill their highest-order needs. Maslow said very few people realize their inner most passions, this nirvana, and when they do, they're typically in their middle or later years.
Psychology Today
No comments:
Post a Comment