Sunday, July 25, 2010

What is Motivation

First we will see what motivation is. The study of motivation is concerned basically with why people behave in a certain way. However, we can describe motivation as the direction and the persistence of action. It is concerned with why people choose particular cause of action in preference to others, and why they continue with a chosen action. Often over a long period and in the face of difficulties and problems.

From a review of the theories of motivation, Michell identifies four common characteristics which underline the definition of motivation.

1 Motivation is typified as an individual phenomenon.
Every person is unique and all the major theories of motivation allow for this uniqueness to be demonstrated in one way or another.

2 Motivation is described, usually as international
Motivation is assumed to be under individual control, and behaviors such as effort expended that our influenced by motivation, are seen as choices of action.

3 Motivation is Multifaceted
The two factors of grate importance are
What gets people activated, and
The willingness of an individual to engage in a desired behavior

4 The purpose of motivational theories is to predict behaviour
Motivation is not the behavior itself and it is not performance. Motivation is concerned with action and the internal and external forces which influence a person's choice of action.

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