In the song Like You Were
Dying, Tim McGraw (2006) sings of reaching one’s dreams and what it takes
to get there; laying it all on the line.
However, the motivation it takes to produce this kind of effort is
different for each individual. This motivation
(moving someone into action or changing an action) is achieved through
different motives or incentives. Thus, motivation
can be either a push or a pull in the right direction that ignites emotional,
physical, and psychological behaviors toward an end result (reaching one’s
dreams). Even though everyone differs on
his or her source of motive or incentive, internal and external dispositions either
positively or negatively stimulate motivation, and the resulting behaviors.
Internal
Dispositions
I. Biological Variables
“The characteristics of the body and brain that motivate behavior”
are defined as the state in which the body is in at the moment a choice is
presented (Deckers, 2010, p. 8). For
example, to eat or not would depend on how long the body has gone without food,
and other hormonal influences (e.g., ghrelin and cortisol) that cause a
biological drive or push to eat. In a
healthy individual these hormones are released into the body and brain regulating
feelings of hunger or satiation (Northrup, 2011). Said hormones keep the body in optimal
condition. This is not to indicate that a
hungry person would not pass on a meal or satiated person would not eat if
offered food that was psychologically motivating.
II. Psychological Variables
“Anxiety and happiness are [both] psychological variables” or
motives (Deckers, 2010, p. 8). The need
to belong is a powerful psychological variable; thus, if someone were given a
piece of pie from a friend or loved one, even though he or she is full, he or
she may decide to eat the pie to satisfy a need to belong. Sass (2012) found a recent study, which
indicates people eat more when he or she is eating with friends than with
strangers. Although this may be a
negative influence, it positively affects psychological behavior. Likewise, a person who has negative
self-image issues may become bulimic or anorexic if the behaviors create a
positive psychological motive or incentive.
External
Dispositions
I. Environmental Variables
Incentives and goals considered of higher value to an individual
naturally will be more attractive or repulsive; therefore, “more motivating
than those of smaller value” (Deckers, 2010, p. 9). Thus, if an individual’s environment finds
(as in the United States) that a leaner build is more desirable than a fuller frame, the motivation (pull) will be
toward achieving or maintaining a leaner build, even though it may be
biologically or psychologically difficult to do so. However, such environmental motivations may
be repel some, causing them to avoid behaviors that encourage weight loss and
physical fitness.
II. Historical Variables
Evolutionary and personal histories, much like biological and
psychological motives, rely on the patterns of the past; either evolutionarily
(the effects of human history) or personal (lifetime experiences). Evolutionary history reflects how man has
evolved; using hunting skills to find food, avoidant behaviors to survive, and
social skills to procreate. With one’s
personal history dictating specific motives and incentives based on experiences
from birth to the present time; his or her knowledge, competence, and
motivation. Most individuals tend to
avoid painful experiences and seek pleasurable incentives when no obvious
psychological or biological motive is present.
For example earning more money is of more value than earning less; thus,
someone may seek out a higher paying job that will fall in line with his or her
knowledge, competence, and motivation skill set.
Motivation
and Behaviors
I. The Relationship between Motivation and Behavior
The sequence of motivation begins with the choices presented in
any given situation. Situations previously
indicated with the enticement of a piece of pie; apple, an American favorite. The choice (to eat or pass) depends on the
selection of motive or incentive most satisfying to the individual. The source of motivation or instrumental behaviors is what will
determine whether or not the pie will be eaten.
The duration, frequency, and intensity of motivation comprise
instrumental behaviors. As related to
the given situation, has the person offered pie been working a long time on his
or her weight (duration)? How diligently has the person been working on
reducing or maintaining his or her weight goal (frequency)? And finally, the positive
or negative results from his or her efforts and behavior thus far (intensity) will
affect the level of motivation to eat the pie or not.
II. How Behavior Exhibits Motivation
Often a person’s behavior (facial expressions, body gestures, and
thought processes) will exhibit his or her level of motivation. An individual who demonstrates concerted
effort, energy, and persistence toward a specific goal or outcome has a higher
level of motivation than someone who procrastinates, feels indifferent, or
dissatisfied. “It is a common
misconception that… some people are simply motivated to do something and others
are not” (Ormrod, 2009, para 15). For
this reason, it is important to surround oneself and express postive emotional
energy to increase motivation; intrinsic and extrinsic. According to Deckers (2010) when people
experience specific emotions they ready themselves for action, which is crucial
to motivation and emotional fulfillment.
Therefore, if a person has positive emotional behaviors, he or she is likely
to decline that piece of pie, thus satisfying the emotional goal.
Although everyone
demonstrates different levels of motivation, his or her behaviors regarding such
motives or incentives are either positively or negatively rewarded as he or she
move into action. The biological and
psychological variables that combine to push people into action make up the
internal dispositions; whereas environmental and historical variables make up
the pull of external dispositions. Sources
of motivation and behavior entail the duration, frequency, and intensity of
instrumental behaviors. Therefore, an
individual who demonstrates concerted effort, energy, and persistence toward a
specific goal or outcome clearly has a high level of motivation. Many people believe that motivation is a
process of tough love, such as conditional rewards; however, emotional encouragement
and support can be a more productive source of motivation.
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