The Definition of Motivation
The definition of motivation is the desire and willingness to
perform a specific task. For example, the desire you feel to
achieve a goal or the willingness to do something for others.
The definition of motivation often includes a sense of drive to
complete something. Motivation can be affected by emotion and
personality. The definition of motivation usually includes two
types – intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation.
Emotion and Personality
According to the definition of motivation, motivation is not
emotion or personality. Motivation can, however, be affected by
both emotion and personality. Negative emotion or a depressive
personality can decrease motivation, while positive emotion or
an outgoing personality can increase motivation. For example,
if an individual is depressed due to a death of a loved one,
he/she may lack temporarily lack motivation to succeed in
his/her job and/or may lack motivation to do things for others.
However, if an individual just got a raise and is feeling good
about himself/herself, he/she may be more motivated to succeed
at work and help those around him/her.
Intrinsic Motivation
When considering the definition of motivation, you must look at
the two basic types of motivation – intrinsic and extrinsic.
According to the definition of motivation, intrinsic motivation
is motivation that comes from within. It is the motivation that
you feel when you want to do something for enjoyment, not for
reward. When you want to work on a hobby, you are intrinsically
motivated. It is important to have intrinsic motivation in
order to enjoy your life. If external (or extrinsic) rewards
are introduced to an activity that was intrinsically motivated,
you may lose the enjoyment of the activity as your motivation
shifts.
Extrinsic Motivation
According to the definition of motivation, the second type of
motivation is extrinsic motivation. This is motivation by
reward. When feel compelled to complete an activity to win or
earn a reward, you are extrinsically motivated. Working to earn
money or competing to win an award are both examples of
extrinsic motivation. The line between intrinsic motivation and
extrinsic motivation is sometimes blurry. For example, if you
are competing in a competition that you both enjoy and want to
win an award, which motivation are you driven
by?
Lack of Motivation
When thinking about the definition of
motivation, it is important to think about what happens when
there is a lack of motivation. When motivation is lacking,
goals may not be reached and productivity decreases. You may
find yourself beginning to lose motivation, and then find that
a series of small events plummets your motivation level too
low. For example, you may not be motivated to excel at work,
which may lead to a falling job performance. Lack of motivation
is usually a product of negative emotion or personality. This
state is usually temporary and fixes itself. However, sometimes
you may need to seek professional help to find motivation.
Psychologists can help under-motivated individuals find
motivation through psychological therapy or drug therapy. With
a little bit of help, your motivation may begin to feel closer
to the ideal definition of motivation.
Increased Motivation
When you feel like the ideal example of the definition of
motivation, you will find that your productivity is increased
and your desire to succeed is elevated. When motivation is
increased, you will meet your goals and find yourself to be
generally happier and more successful. You may find it easy to
reach goals and it might please you to do things for others. If
you find your level of motivation start to slip, find a way to
rebound and regain your motivation to maintain a positive
attitude and accomplish your
goals.
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