Motivation

Motivation is a force that guides and maintains goal-oriented behaviors. It explains what causes people to take action, whether it is to stop and grab something to eat, or to enroll in college and obtain a degree. Physical, cognitive, or emotional forces propel people toward action. Furthermore, motivations are fueled by needs. A need is a condition that arises when a person lacks something. It can be physical, such as the need for food, or psychological, such as the need for achievement.

Towards the end of Mr. Baker’s psychology class at Woodlawn High School, Donnie became motivated to restore his equilibrium by getting to lunch an eating as soon as possible. Donnie’s motivation causes him to become impatient. In this interactivity, observe the conversation that took place after Mr. Baker’s lesson on Drive Reduction Theory had come to a completion. Click the player to begin.

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Cognitive and Emotional Theories of Motivation

People have different reasons for their motivations. Sometimes motivations are biological, as you already learned, but other times they are cognitive or emotional. In this interactivity, you will discover how cognition and emotion play a role in the arousal theory, in humanistic theory, and in achievement motivation. Click the player to begin.

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Motivation Review

Now that you have learned a bit about motivation, review your knowledge in this non-graded activity. Click the player to get started.