Motive and motivation from the point of view of psychology. What is motive

In the most general and broad sense, a motive is a matter, a reason, a circumstance among other alternatives that induces someone to do something or causes a particular action.

This allows us to maintain a constant interest in activities that, if completed, can satisfy a need or fulfill a dream.

From the moment we become aware of our potential and the reality around us, we feel the need to understand the nature of emotions, their connection with thought and how these two dimensions interact and condition our actions and us. They motivate you to achieve personal success.

Motives and motivation from the point of view of psychology

Motive and motivation are two terms related to each other, but they do not have the same meaning. They complement each other. Thus, understanding the difference between the two concepts is important for understanding human action in general, as well as how and why a person decides to do something specific in particular.

Motive in psychology is the reason, and motivation is the force, the engine that makes us perform our actions, and is the product of our thoughts and emotions, it is the desire for well-being. We can classify motivation according to social and biological criteria according to Hull's classification.

Social reasons are based on relationships with subjects of society, associated with the general growth of the subject's personality.

There are three types:

achievement is that personal desire to do something difficult, overcoming obstacles;
power - consists of achieving status, which allows you to influence other people or be a guide to others;
affiliation - the need to communicate with other members of the group, whether for reasons of interest, religion, etc.

Primary (biological) motives with innate characteristics are necessary to ensure the survival of an organism or species, among which the main ones are: hunger, thirst, sleep and sex. They are common to all species. There is also the maternal impulse, reasons for temperature, excretion, oxygen, activity and pain avoidance.

Secondary motives (social) motives , acquired through learning throughout a person's life, are important in increasing the likelihood of social and personal growth of the said person in the society to which he belongs.

Primary motives are those that are associated with essential needs for the survival of the individual.

There are many interpretations of motivation. Here are some theories :

Balance : homeostatic (according to Hull), when the body experiences some kind of deficiency, some biological or mental need appears, impulses act to restore the lost balance.
Needs : Motivation is activated in response to a person's needs.
Cognitive (according to Tolman): Motivation drives behavior to fulfill the expectations and goals that each subject has set as a result of previous learning.
Behavioral : Motivation is driven by the pursuit of pleasure and escape from pain caused by beliefs.
Psychoanalytic : our behavior is motivated by unconscious impulses, sexual and aggressive instincts.
Humanistic ) are satisfied, people develop higher needs and desires (top).

Maslow's pyramid is a psychological theory proposed by Abraham Maslow in his work A Theory of Human Motivation. He articulates a hierarchy of human needs and argues that as the most basic needs are satisfied (at the bottom), people develop higher needs and desires (at the top). According to Maslow's Dispondriam Pyramid:

basic physiological factors that maintain homeostasis (breathing, eating, sleep, pain avoidance, etc.);
safety and security, physical safety and health, resources and protection of your property and assets;
communication, friendship, social integration and social recognition;
respect, high evaluation (need for self-esteem, confidence, achievement, independence and freedom) and low evaluation (respect for other people, need for attention, appreciation, recognition, reputation, etc.).
a disorder is an inhibitor of some behavior aimed at achieving a goal; in all situations in our life, when this happens, an unsatisfied need appears.

The stronger the goal motive, the greater the disappointment when the goal is not achieved.

When faced with an unpleasant situation, we manage to admit our mistakes , we can begin a process through which we will try not to repeat the same mistakes of the past again.

Theories: briefly

Maslow's motivations

Based on the pyramid of needs he described.

Maslow believed that the simplest needs are primary in the hierarchy ; a person pays great attention to them.

The scientist also focused on the fact that satisfying a higher need is impossible without satisfying the previous one (a person will not be able to engage in self-development if he is hungry or is in an uncomfortable environment).

Expectations

According to this concept, the very fact of the presence of a need is not enough to form a motive . A person expects that the method he has chosen to fulfill a need is effective.

He hopes that a specific method will help him achieve his goal. Motivation theory considers the problem of a person’s choice from many alternative ways to achieve a goal. According to the theory, the more clearly a person sees a future result, the more motivated he is to obtain it.

Justice

According to it, a person compares the effort spent with the final result. And if he spent more resources than he received at the output, then discomfort arises.

Discomfort is transformed into a sense of justice. In simple words, the question arises: “Why did I work so much and get so little?”

Then the person begins to look for a way to restore justice: either deliberately make less effort (since the work will not be appreciated anyway), or demands “extra pay” for the effort (increase in salary, promotion, bonus or other status attributes).

This theory of motives is used in management and considers, first of all, the motivation of employees.

Functions of motives

The concept of motive is due to the cause or circumstance that drives or causes an action . There are three main functions of the motif:

In addition, all motives have selective functions and their own properties.

A person chooses a motive according to his needs.

Not all motives and incentives are equally strong. They change depending on time and environment. Human nature always wants to release stress, so learning experiences are always beneficial.

Types of motives

Motives are usually divided into drives and drives. Drives are primarily biological, such as thirst, hunger, sleep and the need to reproduce - all of which motivate us to seek out and engage in certain activities. Drives are thought to originate within the individual and may not require external stimuli to encourage behavior. On the other hand, motives are mainly determined by social and psychological mechanisms such as work, family and relationships. These include factors such as praise, approval, etc.

Structure

Motive is often confused with need. But it's not the same thing. Need is one of the components of motive, but not the only one.

The complete structure of the motive is as follows:

need block . At the beginning, a person has a need of a physiological or social nature;
internal evaluation block . Then there is an analysis of how to satisfy the emerging need. As well as the selection of available methods of achievement, means and opportunities;
target block . As a result, a person finds an object that can satisfy the need.

Let's look at the example of a biological motive :

There is a need to reproduce.
The individual evaluates his capabilities (how to please his partner) and preferences (which partner would be the most suitable - an image is drawn).
An individual is looking for a suitable person on a real level in accordance with desires and capabilities.

External and internal motives

Motives are mainly divided into two categories: extrinsic and intrinsic. Researchers have identified two types of motive that are impressively effective:

External

Performing an action to achieve or prevent a particular outcome

Chances are, many of the things you do every day have an external motive.

According to research, an extrinsic motive is a construct that is present whenever an activity is performed to achieve some discrete outcome.

For example, playing sports to lose weight, learning to speak Italian to impress your friends, or getting to work on time so your boss doesn't yell at you.

Extrinsic motivation is doing something for the “external” reward you get from it. In your career, this could include financial gain, benefits, and even the ability to avoid punishment.

When you find your inspiration waning, refocusing on external rewards is a quick way to get back on track with a goal or activity, whether it's performing well at work or sticking to an exercise regimen. If you find yourself grumbling every day while commuting to do a job you're not excited about, try focusing on external rewards—whether it's a paycheck that pays for rent, groceries, or even free Christmas gifts for your kids. is a great way to get motivated.

Interior

This is an internal desire for success or determination. Experts define internal motive as performing an activity for internal satisfaction, and not for any individual consequences. When a person is intrinsically motivated, he or she is driven to perform for fun or challenge rather than because of external products, pressure, or reward.

Your job may not provide obvious sources of intrinsic motivation, but perhaps you go for a run because you enjoy “pulling the plug” and running along paths in the park, or helping your neighbor carry groceries up the stairs because you really want to. like.

Intrinsic motivation is doing something because you enjoy it. You feel an internal reward for this from yourself. At work, this could be working on purpose, spending quality time with your teammates, or achieving goals you've set for yourself.

Let's say, for example, you're a financial advisor and you get genuine satisfaction from being able to help people manage their money in ways that improve their lives. Or you're a marketing manager who likes to brainstorm new projects with colleagues.

FAQ

Is one type of incentive enough to stimulate team work?

It depends on the size of the goal. If it's a small project, that's enough. For large companies, psychologists advise using at least 4 methods, and preferably at least 16.

What does motivation management mean?

In any team, there is a periodic decline in motivation and, as a result, the efficiency of workers’ work decreases. Management who knows how to manage motivation will be able to quickly switch to other methods and apply additional methods to motivate employees.

What role does gamification play in motivation?

Gamification is an innovative way to motivate employees. The opportunity to complete various quests, competitions, and compile rating tables develops in employees a healthy passion for becoming the best, winning, and receiving a well-deserved reward.

Positive and negative motives

Human beings naturally seek pleasure and avoid pain. We are reward-seeking organisms, and everything we do contains a reward, conscious or unconscious, perceived or real:

Positive motive (rewards).

This is a type of motive that you use when you perform an action for the reason of obtaining a reward, which is usually in the future. This future can be immediate or distant. The expectation of reward is what drives you.

Negative motive (avoidance of pain).

A negative motive is punishment. This occurs when actions are taken to avoid pain or failure.

Another important thing to consider about negative motive is that if you do not have a solution at hand, then negative motive can cause helplessness and depression.

There is a difference between a negative and a positive motive:

A negative motive is rooted in fear, while a positive motive is rooted in service.
The difference between a negative and a positive motive is the difference between survival and life.
If you have a positive motive, your actions are more likely to have a positive outcome. On the other hand, if you are negative, your action will lead to an unwanted negative result.
A negative motive can be self-harm, while a positive motive is self-confidence.
When you are running away from something, then you have a negative motive, and a positive motive will run towards something.

Motivation to achieve success

Motivation and success go hand in hand to propel the ship of important projects in our lives to their culmination.

If personal motivation can be created, a person will develop special qualities that will distinguish him from others and keep him focused on success.

In essence, he becomes a man:

Responsible and productive to complete the necessary tasks on the path to success.
Persistent, focused and with the strength to not give up easily due to adversity.
Dedicated and efficient , always striving to achieve goals in the best possible way in the shortest possible time.
Organized and calm, with her ideas, decisions and everything that is part of her goals.
Optimistic and positive in order to have a clear approach to the goal even in the most critical moments.

In general, when we are motivated to succeed, we become a more optimal person to achieve our goals and create what we have always dreamed of.

How do we get motivated to succeed? The first thing to know is that we feel motivated all the time in our lives.

Whether you want to sleep, or eat, or think, or swim, or write, or cry, or talk... It all comes from your motivation.

The important thing is that this motivation is not always aimed at success, or in other words, we will not always feel motivated to make efforts in pursuit of our dreams.

Motivation as such is already part of you. What is needed is to point him in the right direction. And how to do it? There are a few things to keep in mind:

The activities you are going to do or the goals you are trying to achieve should be aimed at achieving your lifelong dreams. If what you're doing is something you don't really want to do or doesn't contribute to your happiness but rather promotes conformity, then it's very difficult for you to feel motivated to do it and be successful at it.

In your mind, you must have a clear idea of the goal that you are going to achieve leading to success. Experience the thrill of success every day you are on your way to it, as if you had already achieved it. This usually gives a great incentive to continue working.

Remember the difference between progress and results. Your mind should always be focused on the progress you are going to achieve and not on the goal you want to achieve. The difference between them is critical. If you think about goals, progress is worthless because no matter how much progress you make, if you haven't achieved the end result, your mind thinks you haven't accomplished anything.

Your motivation should be towards things that are positive for you, that is, achieving your goals or objectives, it should be positive, such as receiving an award or recognition, or simply getting what you want. It could be a motivation based on negative things, such as that you must act because otherwise you will be punished, or you will be out of work, or you will simply suffer or feel some pain (internal or external) by not complying. Negative reinforcement is never beneficial because it stops being motivation and becomes obligation.
Don't limit yourself to just creating motivation, look for inspiration. You can rely on other people for support on your path to success, or you can simply seek some support from other people's experiences through the Internet, books, etc.

Advice from psychologists

Start small . Set a goal that you can achieve in the near future. If you want to lose weight, start getting up early to exercise.
Set only one goal . It’s difficult to achieve several goals; it’s better to complete one first, then take on the next one. After you regularly start doing exercises, stop eating after 18-00.
Make public promises . If you communicate your intention to others, it will be harder for you to give up on your plan. Tell your loved ones about your intention to lose weight.
Look forward to achieving your goal . Think about how good it will be for you. Take out your favorite outfit that has become too small for you and hang it up so you can see it more often.

The problem of the struggle of motives

In the field of volitional activity in psychology there is the concept of “struggle of motives.”

In the process of determining the most significant stimulus for volitional action, a struggle of motives occurs - this is a collision of several desires or urges to action at once. The outcome of this struggle is understanding the goal and making a decision.

Typically, one of the following situations occurs:

Approach - avoidance	A situation where a person gets caught when faced with a goal that has an ambivalent motivational meaning. For example: is it worth accepting the help you need now from an unpleasant person?
Getting closer - getting closer	The situation is characterized by the presence of two positive goals. A choice between two goods.
Avoidance - avoidance	The situation is characterized by the presence of two negative goals. A choice of two evils.
Double approach - avoidance	A situation in which the subject is faced with a choice between ambivalent, i.e. both positive and negative goals.

Basic human motives

If we consider the main motives of a person as an individual and a species as a whole, then the main (primary) motives will be those related to existence, i.e. biological (physiological), innate: hunger, thirst, sleep and sex . They cannot be changed by willpower. Some of them are cyclical - food, sleep.

Many of the basic motives are ignored due to everyday life, but they are the basis of many economic activities and if they cannot be satisfied, they endanger life expectancy: movement, clean air, adequate ambient temperature, etc.

Therefore, they are important and necessary processes to ensure the survival of humans and the species. Other primary motives are escaping danger or seeking shelter to protect oneself.

What is the subordination of motives?

The subordination of motives is one of the most important new formations in the development and formation of personality. This period begins in preschool age. The subordination of motives occurs at the moment when different motives lose their equality and are built into their own individual system (motivational scheme). New and dominant motives emerge, from which a hierarchy is built.

At this age, social motives are a priority: competition, achieving success, self-affirmation, moral motives, etc. There is a desire to be like an adult and evaluate your behavior.

But in order to prevent unfavorably developing personality foundations, educational measures of a perestroika nature are necessary. It is important to understand that this does not mean that the child will constantly resort to the same motives. This doesn’t happen even with adults, because... Any person has many motives in his behavior.

The most difficult choice is between public and private. The subordination of motives occurs on the basis of their struggle, but what can you do: all life is a struggle.

“Motive is of the utmost importance. Circumstances or motives dominate a person only to the extent that he himself allows them to do so.”
Georg W. F. Hegel

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Natalia Shakhova

How to motivate staff

Proper employee motivation is of no small importance for a successful business.

The following methods are used for this:

Economic ones are the most effective. This includes salary increases, bonuses, other incentive payments, and gifts.
Organizational and administrative methods . These are not material payments, but they give employees privileges when working in the company. For example, providing free training opportunities, arranging production facilities, preferential medical care for staff, and creating a corporate identity for the company.
Social-psychological methods . This includes methods such as recognition of authority, trust, support and strengthening loyalty, holding corporate events for a friendly and working atmosphere.