Intrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic Motivation
The term intrinsic motivation is used to conceptually define the proclivity of individuals to exhibit an activity and experience the pleasure derived from it alone without thinking about possible rewards from the outside. Such a motivational factor is extremely important because it is a stimulating force for inventiveness, and effective instructions help to realize a deeper engagement with tasks.
What are the key characteristics of intrinsic motivation?
Intrinsic motivation refers to the inner motivation to act, which can come from aspects such as self-pleasure, questioning, or the test that an activity brings. The components of intrinsic motivation include a sense of autonomy or independence, a desire for mastering, and the focus on enjoyment of the activity itself. For example, a student who chooses to read a book out of pure curiosity instead of reading it to get grades is a perfect example of intrinsic motivation.
How does intrinsic motivation differ from extrinsic motivation?
Intrinsic motivation sprouts from a person's own inner-drive and self-gratification, while extrinsic motivation draws on external contactors such as gratifications or acknowledgments. Take for instance, a musician who could practice for hours on end because of his love for playing, which is a clear demonstration of intrinsic motivation; while another musician might practice solely for the purpose of winning a competition, thus he is an example of extrinsic motivation.
What are some benefits of fostering intrinsic motivation in the workplace?
The practice of creating an environment that facilitates intrinsic motivation is likely to result in more job satisfaction, creativity, and overall work performance. People who have intrinsic motivation are the most likely to show initiative and get into their work deeply. For instance, a software engineer who loves programming could be the one who comes up with new technical solutions on his/her own without needing external rewards, thus boosting overall productivity.
What strategies can be employed to enhance intrinsic motivation in students?
Precisely the same way, teachers can offer students the freedom to pick from the selection of tasks to do, recommend them self-managed projects, and, subsequently, form a learning atmosphere that recognizes curiosity and exploration as essential values to motivate the students internally. Besides, the teacher may refer to the examples of science projects in which students take full control of the content by presenting scientific topics they like, it would increase the level of inquiry and thus student's intrinsic motivation.