Our behavior can be conditioned by different types of motivation.
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What is motivation?
All the actions that we carry out during the day basically have one motivation or another . From the most everyday acts such as eating to the most far-sighted behaviors such as preparing a wedding, they have at least one personal motivation behind them.
Therefore, motivation has been a concept of great interest in psychology. It is a basic aspect that determines our behavior, and that is responsible for us performing all kinds of acts. From those so basic related to immediate survival to intentional behaviors that pursue certain goals for years.
In any case, the truth is that there is a single theory of motivation. Maslow’s pyramid or McClelland’s three factors are among the best known, and try to explain the types of personal motivation that lead us to carry out different behaviors
The 10 types of personal motivation
Both the conscious part of our mind and the unconscious can generate our motivations . Sometimes we seem to be very clear about the reasons that make us act in a certain way, although this is not always the case.
Next we will see the different types of motivation that exist. We will see that the definitions and examples represent the great variety of reasons why the human being can be encouraged to behave.
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1. Extrinsic motivation
Extrinsic motivation is closely linked to the idea of prize or reward . This is a very clear case of encouraging behavior, which is none other than the idea that a benefit will be enjoyed that will be given externally if something is done.
If you tell a child that if he behaves well you are going to give him a toy, he will try to behave well. In the same way, if you tell a person that by eating an insect he will earn 5,000 euros, it is possible that he will eat it, which he would almost certainly never do.
2. Intrinsic motivation
Intrinsic motivation is closely linked to the pleasure associated with personal growth . Performing certain activities is very feasible when the person has a high degree of intrinsic motivation.
For example, there are many people who learn yoga or do some kind of sport just for the pleasure that this activity gives them. Although it can be lazy, especially when you don’t have the acquired habit, these people manage to overcome it thanks to their great intrinsic motivation.
3. Positive motivation
A positive motivation is related to the benefit of maintaining a behavior . In this case, it is not taken into account whether the motivation is external or internal, but rather the fact that the person has managed to maintain the good habit in question by thinking of the associated benefits.
4. Negative motivation
Negative motivation emphasizes that the behavior is maintained to avoid something . For example, it may be that the person avoids taking drugs because he is not judged by his environment such as family, friends, society, etc. (external motivation) or because you consider that doing so will lead to discomfort the next day, problems in daily life, loss of health, etc. (internal motivation).
5. Basic motivation
Motivation refers to the degree of commitment you have to an activity . It is used above all in the world of sports, and is based on the motivation generated by self-improvement within the discipline in question. The results and performance mark the degree of satisfaction based on this type of basic motivation.
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6. Everyday motivation
The daily motivation is that referring to the day to day . It is also widely used in the world of sports, and taking as an example a person who practices some type of physical activity, this motivation is linked to the degree of pleasure and satisfaction at an immediate level that the activity in question produces.
7. Ego-Centered Motivation
Ego-centered motivation feeds on comparison . A highly motivated person of this type is motivated when he compares himself to other people and sees that he can stand out. It happens in athletes but also in the workplace, in comparisons at a materialistic level, etc.
8. Task-focused motivation
Task-focused motivation is related to impressions about an activity . A person can be very motivated when he sees that things work out for him. For example, if a basketball player sees that he progresses because he understands the tactics and perfects the technique, he can be very motivated and improve, while there are other people who are not motivated only by this.
9. Homeostatic motivation
Homeostatic motivation explains human behavior through the satisfaction of the most basic needs . The body tries to respond to its needs such as hunger and thirst, but also other more instinctive ones. For example, a person may act in a certain way due to the desire to be intimate with someone.
10. Emotional motivation
This type of motivation has to do with the emotions that a person feels . It is one of the most complex, and it is that a behavior can be motivated by certain traumas, mental disorders, need for attachment, etc. An example would be love or friendship relationships, in which the person seeks to satisfy the needs of the social beings that we are.
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Bibliographic references
- Maslow, A.H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370-396.
- Palmero, F. (2008). Motivation and emotion. McGraw-Hill Interamericana of Spain SL .
- Turienzo, R. (2016). The little book of motivation. Editorial encourages .
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.