Motivation: An Integrative Review
Abstract
Motivation has been studied in various disciplines such as psychology, sociology, and economics for decades. This integrative review synthesizes the literature on motivation, outlining a definition, its components, and the various theories that have been proposed to explain motivation. Additionally, this review highlights the implications of motivation for various aspects of life, including academic achievement, health and well-being, and performance in the workplace. The review concludes with recommendations for further research in this area.
Introduction
The concept of motivation has been studied in various disciplines for decades, with a wide range of definitions and theories proposed to explain it. Motivation is widely accepted as a powerful force that drives human behavior and influences the outcome of various life domains. However, the exact nature of motivation is still unclear, and there is much debate over what motivates people and how it can be best understood. This review synthesizes the literature on motivation, outlining a definition, its components, and the various theories that have been proposed to explain motivation. Additionally, this review highlights the implications of motivation for various aspects of life, including academic achievement, health and well-being, and performance in the workplace.
Definition
Motivation is often defined as the psychological process of initiating, sustaining, and controlling behavior (Deci & Ryan, 2000; Ryan & Deci, 2000). This definition is based on the idea that there are internal and external factors that influence behavior. Internal factors include needs, values, goals, and expectations, while external factors include rewards and punishments. Motivation is the psychological process through which these factors interact to influence and direct behavior.
Components
There are three main components of motivation: direction, intensity, and persistence (Wigfield & Eccles, 2000). Direction refers to the direction in which behavior is directed, i.e. towards a goal or away from it. Intensity refers to the strength of motivation, i.e. how strongly the individual feels the need to act. Finally, persistence refers to the length of time an individual is able to maintain their motivation.
Theories
There are various theories that have been proposed to explain motivation. The most well-known is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which proposes that motivation is driven by physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization needs (Maslow, 1943). Other theories include cognitive evaluation theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000), expectancy theory (Vroom, 1964) and self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000).
Implications
Motivation has implications for a variety of areas of life. For example, it has been found to be an important factor in academic achievement (Wigfield & Eccles, 2000). Additionally, a lack of motivation has been found to be associated with poorer health and well-being (Gagne, 2005). Finally, motivation has been found to be an important factor in performance in the workplace, with motivated employees performing better than unmotivated employees (Vroom, 1964).
Conclusion
This review has synthesized the literature on motivation, outlining a definition, its components, and the various theories that have been proposed to explain motivation. Additionally, the implications of motivation for various aspects of life, including academic achievement, health and well-being, and performance in the workplace, have been highlighted. It is clear that motivation is a powerful force that can have a significant impact on an individual’s life. Further research is needed to better understand the nature of motivation and its implications for various aspects of life.
References
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227-268.
Gagne, M. (2005). The role of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in promoting physical activity and exercise adherence. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 1(5), 237-248.
Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370-396.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations: Classic definitions and new directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25(1), 54-67.
Vroom, V. H. (1964). Work and motivation. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Wigfield, A., & Eccles, J. S. (2000). Expectancy-value theory of achievement motivation. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25(1), 68-81.