Motivation - Directing Our Actions Based on Our Motives

Motivation is defined as a driving force for activities, willingness, and determined targets. Motivation is based on the Latin term, motivation, a desire which requires personal satisfaction. These desires, needs or desires can be generally inherent, acquired through social influence of society, culture, language or can be generally innate. It can also be influenced by external factors like the surrounding culture and other psychological conditions. Motivational theories consider that motivation is an organic process in which an individual develops certain behavioral patterns that allow them to successfully accomplish their goals.


Motivational theories of motivation attempt to explain why certain behaviors are more frequently performed than other behaviors. For instance, some people are more likely to behave aggressively, excessively, or impulsively than other people. They have been genetically pre-disposed to such behaviors. The same can be said of other individuals who have been treated with drugs or who abuse alcohol. These behaviors are rewarded and encouraged as they are considered as a means of getting what one wants.

According to recent studies, people who exhibit aggressive behaviors tend to lack self-discipline, which can hinder their success in life. If the goal of the game is to help people get what they want, then the aggressive behaviors have to be curbed. This is where motivation comes in.

It is a well-known fact that most people will quit when things are not going the way they expect them to be gone. However, there are some who will persist and finish what they started. For most psychologists, these are the people who make it big in life. Why is motivation so important in helping people to be successful? Motivation helps people to keep working and trying even when things do not go their way. Without motivation, people are easily discouraged and given up.

Although these motives change from time to time, a person's basic needs and drives remain constant. As such, our emotional responses towards various behaviors and situations remain consistent. When our reactions don't align with our true feelings, our behavior is then altered. In order to gain something, we may resort to unhealthy behaviors such as lying, cheating or stealing.

People are generally motivated by two main needs: a need for power and a need for freedom. Power involves attaining what we want through the use of resources like money and other motivators, while freedom includes being motivated to follow our values, beliefs or ambitions. The need for freedom motivates us to act even when there are obstacles or negative consequences. In addition, the drive for control is necessary to direct our behavior and to achieve our goals. For example, if we want to save money for the future, we would be motivated to increase our savings.

There are three types of motivation: extrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation and self-control motivation. Extrinsic motivation comes from rewards that we receive in the process of performing an action or completing a task. Intrinsic motivation comes from the satisfaction we get from doing the right things and from knowing that we have done right. Self-control motivation is the ability to keep working toward a goal no matter what the difficulties or challenges. This form of motivation is the one we use to keep working toward a promotion, higher pay, increased social status or other benefits.


Motivation can be effective only if it is rooted in a personal understanding of the individual drives that shape our behavior toward good and bad decisions. A more powerful motivation is the one that comes from using our understanding of ourselves as it applies to our various needs and motives. This kind of motivation is easier to maintain because it links our behavior toward what is good. The three primary motivational drives are the need for safety, the need for belonging and the need for social approval. The need for safety drives us to take reasonable and responsible actions toward avoiding dangerous situations. The need for belonging strengthens our sense of self worth and gives us the motivation to get up and do something about a problem.