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What is Intrinsic Motivation?

Intrinsic Motivation

Introduction

Intrinsic Motivation is the tendency or drive that arises naturally from within an individual and manifests as a need for competence and self-determination to achieve their goals.

Intrinsic motivation arises voluntarily from within a person, without this being influenced by any external factor or reward since intrinsic motivation entails a rewarding activity for the individual and is closely linked to personal satisfaction and fulfilment.

The three aspects that induce the manifestation of intrinsic motivation are the following:

Characteristics of intrinsic motivation

The main characteristics of intrinsic motivation are the following:

It arises from within the being, by its impulse and without the intervention of other people or another external agent.

Intrinsic Motivation Examples

Some examples of intrinsic motivation are as follows:

The performance of charitable acts or solidarity.

The study of some area of ​​knowledge that we are passionate about.

The motivating force that drives us to personal or professional achievement.

Make donations of clothing or food to people in need.

The practice of hobbies and pastimes.

Participation in volunteer groups.

Carrying out a good job.

Help your neighbour and other people.

Show affection to the people we love.

Community help and cooperation.

Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation: what they are and why you need them

Skills Articles

Surely you know people who consistently achieve everything they set out to do. You may wonder what they all have in common: intelligence, perseverance, will, luck? These success stories may result from a mixture of all these factors, but there is one ingredient without which, most likely, none of these people would have achieved their goal: motivation.

There are two types of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. In this script, you will discover what they are, what differences there are between the two and why they will be essential to help you fulfil your dreams.

What is motivation – why is it so significant?

Motivation is defined as the “set of internal or external factors that partly determine a person’s actions”. In another language, it is said that when someone is motivated,  his actions and energies are directed toward achieving a specific goal.

Currently, motivation is often identified as the key to success precisely because it is the driver of the rest of the skills that lead to a goal: will, perseverance, optimism, and a positive attitude, among many others. For this reason, companies that manage to motivate their employees are up to 50% more efficient. Can you imagine being able to apply it to your life?

It is necessary to point out that internal or external factors can give motivation. For this reason, a difference is made between motivation and extrinsic motivation.

What is the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation?

Although it is clear that both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation play a central role in any successful strategy, they are not the same thing. Intrinsic motivation is born from within each one and is independent of any external stimulus. The rewards you will get by feeding this motivation are purely intimate: self-love, personal satisfaction, independence, inner strength, confidence, etc.

Therefore, the main difference between both motivations is the origin of the stimulus that arouses this behaviour. In this way, if a desire gives the actions for personal improvement, the desire to grow and learn or the need to fulfil an obligation by doing things well, it is intrinsic motivation.

On the other hand, behaviour is fueled by the desire to get a promotion at work, the desire to be recognized or even the counter-reaction to a possible reprimand (as happens with punishment in children, for example); it’s an apparent extrinsic motivation.

differences between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation

Motivation is the key to success

There is no motivation that is “good” and another that is “bad”. To achieve your goals, you must balance intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, both individually and collectively. In this sense, there are various studies on the importance of both causes in the personal and work environment. Still, one of the most famous hypotheses about intrinsic motivation is the theory of self-determination (Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, 1975).

I need to be competent.

In other words, when one’s behaviour and behaviour changes fuel by a personal desire to improve and to achieve these feelings of satisfaction, without the intention of receiving an external reward, it can said that the motivation is intrinsic, and this type of motivation usually results in the segregation of serotonin.

It turn, having high serotonin levels in the body brings a feeling of happiness, serenity, and optimism, relieves anxiety, and improves cognitive processes.

In short, intrinsic motivation and a good state of mind go hand in hand, thus multiplying the chances that you can achieve your goals.

How do the two types of motivation feed each other?

Naturally, intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation are not entirely independent. According to a study, external rewards affect inherent motivation in different ways:

The excess of external rewards for an activity that should already suppose an intrinsic motivation can result in a decrease in it. Do not abuse extrinsic motivation if you want to strengthen intrinsically!

On the other hand, extrinsic motivation can a helpful tool when starting an activity that would never have done by simple motivation.

On the other hand, extrinsic motivation in social validation, for example, is very closely related to an increase in intrinsic motivation.

A good example of feedback between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation occurs in the field of training. Who does not want to continue learning to expand knowledge and more satisfy with the work done? In addition, this motivation that, on many occasions, stems from a personal desire for improvement can also mean the offer of a good job opportunity, a salary increase, etc.

types of motivatio

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Also Read: Persuasive Texts – the Eight Keys to Creating a Copy

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