MOTIVATION

Introduction

Motivation plays a vital in every area of life and various stage activities. Our success and achievements are basically depends on the motivation. It is, in form or the other, always present at the root of all human activities. Motivation is said to be ‘the heart of learning’, ‘golden road to learning’ and ‘potent factor in learning’, as all learning is motivated learning.

Meaning

Motivation is derived from Latin word ‘movere’ meaning to ‘to move’. It is an art of inculcating and stimulating interest in such activities. It is the process of arousing action, sustaining activity in progress, regulating and directing pattern of activity. It is the combined action of desires and incentives, pushes and pulls. Thus, motivation is some kind of internal force which arouses or initiates action on the part of the organisms.

Definitions

1. Motivation is the super-highway to learning. – Bernard.

2. Motivation is the influence of general pattern of activity initiating and directing the behaviour of the organism. – Johnson.

3. The term Motivation refers to the arousal of tendency to act to produce one or more effects. – J.W. Atkinson.

4. Motivation is the universal characteristics of every organism state of affair. It is constant, never-ending, fluctuating and complex phenomenon. – Maslow.

5. Motivation is the central factor in the efficient management of the process of learning. Some type of motivation must be present in all learning. – Kelly.

6. Motivation is the process of arousing sustaining and regulating activity. – Good.

7. Motivation is considered with the arousal of the interest in learning which is essential for learning. – Crow & Crow.

8. Motivation is an internal condition initiated by drives, needs or desires and producing goal directed behaviour. – Lefton.

9. Motivation maybe defined more formally as a psychological of internal process initiated by some need, which leads to the activity that will satisfy that need. – Lowell.

Types

1. Natural or Innate Motives

There are some motives which are universal among the all human being. These motives are also called as Primary motives. These motives ensure the preservation of life. It is found in all organisms. We are also experience such motives and drive everyday. Therefore it is described as Natural Motives. These motives are basically due to the biological and physiological needs such as hunger, thirst, sex, sleep, rest, blood circulation, heart beat, respiration, metabolism, appetites, glandular secretions etc.

These motives are directly linked with the natural instincts, urges and impulses of the organism. So it is also called Intrinsic Motives.

2. Acquired Motives

Human beings are capable of acquiring new motives by learning. The interaction of an individual with his environment provides a constant source of modification of his old motives and acquisition of new ones. Acquired motives are also known as learned motives which are nothing but the externalization of drives. They are actually secondary reinforcements. These needs for social, psychological and emotional needs such as affection, belongingness, security, happiness, prestige and comport.

Here the individual does learn something not for his own sake but as a means of obtaining desired goals or getting same external reward. So it is also called Extrinsic Motives.