Intrinsic Motivation

Definition

Intrinsic motivation refers to the internal drive and desire to engage in a behavior or activity for its own sake, rather than for external rewards or pressures. It is a self-driven form of motivation that stems from an individual's inherent interest, enjoyment, or personal satisfaction in the activity itself.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Intrinsic motivation is associated with higher levels of creativity, problem-solving, and task persistence compared to extrinsic motivation.
2. Providing excessive external rewards or pressures can undermine intrinsic motivation, a phenomenon known as the 'overjustification effect'.
3. Autonomy, competence, and relatedness are the three key psychological needs that must be fulfilled to foster intrinsic motivation according to self-determination theory.
4. Intrinsic motivation is particularly important in organizational settings, as it can lead to higher job satisfaction, engagement, and performance.
5. Managers can support intrinsic motivation by providing employees with autonomy, opportunities for skill development, and a sense of belonging within the organization.

Review Questions

• Explain how intrinsic motivation relates to individual and cultural factors in employee performance.
  • Intrinsic motivation is a key factor in individual employee performance, as it drives individuals to engage in tasks and activities for the inherent satisfaction and enjoyment they provide, rather than for external rewards or pressures. Cultural factors, such as organizational values, leadership styles, and societal norms, can also influence the development and expression of intrinsic motivation in the workplace. For example, cultures that emphasize autonomy, competence, and relatedness tend to foster higher levels of intrinsic motivation among employees, leading to greater job satisfaction, creativity, and overall performance.
• Describe the role of intrinsic motivation in basic models of learning and behavioral change.
  • Intrinsic motivation plays a crucial role in the basic models of learning and behavioral change. In the context of learning, individuals who are intrinsically motivated to acquire new knowledge or skills are more likely to engage in the learning process, persist in the face of challenges, and ultimately achieve better learning outcomes. Similarly, in the context of behavioral change, intrinsic motivation is a key driver of self-directed behavioral modification, as individuals are more likely to adopt and maintain new behaviors when they find the process inherently satisfying or meaningful, rather than relying solely on external rewards or punishments.
• Analyze how intrinsic motivation relates to recent research on motivation theories and its influence on employee performance and motivation.
  • Recent research on motivation theories, such as self-determination theory, has highlighted the critical role of intrinsic motivation in shaping employee performance and overall motivation. Studies have shown that organizations that foster an environment that supports employees' basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness tend to have higher levels of intrinsic motivation, leading to increased job satisfaction, engagement, and productivity. Conversely, overreliance on extrinsic rewards or pressures can undermine intrinsic motivation, resulting in negative outcomes like decreased creativity, reduced task persistence, and lower overall performance. As such, understanding and effectively leveraging intrinsic motivation has become a key focus of recent research and best practices in organizational behavior and human resource management.

Related terms

Extrinsic Motivation:

Extrinsic motivation refers to engaging in an activity or behavior in order to obtain a tangible reward or avoid punishment, rather than for the inherent satisfaction of the activity itself.

Self-Determination Theory:

A theory of motivation that emphasizes the importance of an individual's innate psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness in fostering intrinsic motivation and well-being.

Intrinsic Rewards:

The internal feelings of satisfaction, accomplishment, and personal growth that an individual experiences when engaging in an activity that is intrinsically motivating.