PSYCHOLOGY OF MOTIVATION:
Dave Ikiedei Asei
19/02/2023
Motivation can be defined as the driving force that compels us to take action towards achieving a goal or satisfying a need. Psychologists have long been interested in understanding the nature of motivation, and have developed a number of theories to explain the psychological processes that underlie it.
One of the most well-known theories of motivation is Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. According to this theory, human needs are arranged in a hierarchy, with physiological needs such as food, water, and shelter at the bottom, followed by safety needs, love and belonging needs, esteem needs, and finally self-actualization needs at the top. Maslow posited that individuals must satisfy lower-level needs before they can progress to higher-level needs and achieve self-actualization.
SELF-DETERMINATION THEORY (SST):
According to SDT, there are three innate psychological needs that must be satisfied in order for individuals to feel motivated, they are discussed below:
AUTONOMY:
Autonomy refers to the ability of an individual or entity to make their own decisions and act independently, without external influence or control. It is a concept that is often associated with self-governance, self-determination, and independence.
In the context of individuals, autonomy is closely linked to personal agency, or the ability to shape one's own life and make choices that reflect one's values and goals. Autonomy is considered a fundamental human right, and is enshrined in many legal systems and international human rights conventions.
Added to personal autonomy, the concept of autonomy is also important in fields such as robotics, where researchers are exploring ways to give machines greater degrees of decision-making power and independence. This is often referred to as "autonomous technology" and has the potential to revolutionize a wide range of industries, from transportation to manufacturing to healthcare.
COMPETENCE IN ABILITIES:
Competence is a term used to describe a person's ability, skill, knowledge, and expertise in a particular area or field. It refers to an individual's capability to perform a task, job, or activity successfully and effectively. Competence can be acquired through education, training, experience, and practice.
Competence is often evaluated in the workplace and is considered an essential component of job performance. Employers look for individuals who have the necessary competence to perform their duties and responsibilities to the best of their abilities. In some professions, like medicine, law, and engineering, competence is crucial to ensuring the safety and well-being of the public.
Competence can also be measured through various means, like performance evaluations, assessments, and certifications. It is important for individuals to continually develop and enhance their competence to remain relevant and competitive in their chosen field.
RELATEDNESS:
"Relatedness" is a term that can have different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. Some few common meanings of the term are:
GENETIC RELATEDNESS:
Relatedness refers to the degree of genetic similarity between two individuals or groups. In biology and genetics, relatedness is often measured by comparing the DNA sequences of different organisms to see how similar they are. Close relatives, such as siblings, typically have a higher degree of genetic relatedness than more distant relatives, such as cousins, etc.
KINSHIP OR FAMILIAL RELATEDNESS:
This refers to the degree of social or biological relatedness between family members. This can include blood relatives (e.g. parents, siblings, and grandparents) as well as non-blood relatives (e.g. adoptive parents or siblings).
CULTURAL RELATEDNESS:
Cultural relatedness refers to the degree to which different cultural groups share common beliefs, values, and practices. This can include similarities in language, religion, customs, and traditions.
SEMANTIC RELATEDNESS:
Semantic relatedness refers to the degree of similarity between words or concepts. In natural language processing and artificial intelligence, semantic relatedness is often used to measure how closely related two words are in meaning.
In all, relatedness is a term used to describe the degree of connection or similarity between different entities, whether they be biological, social, cultural, or linguistic.
AUTONOMY IN LIFE:
Autonomy refers to the ability of an individual or entity to make decisions and take actions independently, without external influence or control. Autonomy is often associated with concepts like freedom, self-determination, and self-governance.
In philosophy and ethics, autonomy is considered an important value, particularly in the context of moral and ethical decision-making. For example, the principle of respect for autonomy is one of the four basic principles of medical ethics, which holds that individuals have the right to make decisions about their own medical treatment.
In psychology, autonomy is an important concept in the study of motivation and personality. According to self-determination theory, autonomy is one of the three basic psychological needs that must be met in order for individuals to experience well-being and optimal functioning. Autonomy in this context refers to the need to feel that one's actions are self-directed and in line with one's own values and goals.
In all, autonomy is an important concept in many different fields, and is often seen as a key aspect of human flourishing and well-being.
EXPECTANCY THEORY:
Expectancy theory is a motivational theory that explains how individuals make decisions about how to act in the pursuit of their goals. This theory suggests that individuals will be motivated to exert effort when they believe that their effort will lead to improved performance, and that improved performance will in turn lead to desired outcomes.
THREE KEY COMPONENTS OF EXPECTANCY THEORY:
INSTRUMENTALITY:
This refers to an individual's belief that improved performance will lead to desired outcomes. In other words, it considers questions like ‘will the improved performance lead to rewards or other positive consequences’?
VALENCE:
Valence refers to the value that an individual places on the outcomes that may result from improved performance. In other words, do they actually desire the outcomes that may result from their improved performance?
According to expectancy theory, motivation is highest when individuals believe that their effort will lead to improved performance, that improved performance will lead to desired outcomes, and that those outcomes are highly valued. This theory can be used to design motivational systems that align an individual's efforts with organizational goals, and to help individuals understand how their effort can lead to the desired outcomes.
GOAL SETTING THEORY:
Goal setting theory suggests that setting specific, challenging goals can increase motivation and performance. This theory proposes that goals serve as a roadmap for behavior, and that individuals will be most motivated when they have clear goals that are challenging but achievable.
On the whole, the psychology of motivation is a complex and multifaceted area of study, and there are many different theories and approaches that can help us understand the complex interplay of psychological, social, and environmental factors that contribute to motivation.
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