What Motivates Us?

Application of Intrinsic Motivation

Whether we realize it or not, our actions are often driven by underlying motivations. Sometimes we are very purposeful in our intent - for example, we might choose to stay late after work every day in hopes of getting a promotion. Other times, we are a lot less conscious of our motivations. Why do we get drunk at parties just to feel terrible the next day?

Understanding our personal motivation can provide a useful perspective to help us make decisions in life. Of course, for our day-to-day activities, consciously analyzing every decision may not be the best use of our time. But, I think that making an active effort to evaluate how we spend our time with regard to our motivations can bring insight into our own character and provide guidance that will allow us to live more meaningfully.

Psychologists generally divide motivation into two broad types - intrinsic and extrinsic. Extrinsic motivation constitutes any type of reward separate from the activity that motivates us to take a particular action. For example, we work hard to make money, or we study hard to earn good grades. Intrinsic motivation, on the other hand, refers to the intrinsic happiness we derive from a particular activity. For example, bookworms voraciously devour novels primarily because they enjoy reading, not so that they can impress their friends with how much they read, although that could be a secondary reason. The distinction between the two types of motivation can be a little fuzzy, and indeed, some experts even contend with the validity of the framework. For the purposes of this post, I will assume this framework to be approximately true.

So, what are the differences between the two types of motivation? Well, research has shown that extrinsic motivation can be a useful incentive for enabling efficient execution of routine or mechanical work but serves to hinder work that requires creativity or high-level thinking, whereas intrinsic motivation unlocks creativity and high-level thinking. Extrinsic motivation, when applied to an activity, will also lower latent intrinsic motivation over time. For example, suppose that you enjoy volunteering at homeless shelters on weekends because of your desire to help the poor. Well, if suddenly I introduce a monetary reward every time you go, over time your intrinsic motivation will begin to decline. Eventually you may frequent the homeless shelter less and less as your intrinsic motivation wanes. Furthermore, if the extrinsic motivation is then removed, you may lose all desire for the activity outright.

All findings seem to indicate that intrinsic motivation has a more powerful and permanent effect than does extrinsic motivation. But what does this tell us about how to live our lives? Should we try to maximize our time spent on intrinsically-motivated activities? How do we reconcile earning a decent wage with doing what we love? Indeed, this has been the classic artist dilemma since the beginning of time. Pragmatism and passion don't often intertwine.

I would be lying if I pretended to have any of the answers. For now, I will focus on an application of motivation theory that I personally find useful: how do we deal with what others think of us? People display a wide range of behaviors regarding this issue. Some live to please others, whereas others completely disregard how they are perceived. I'm here to offer a different point of view. Instead of worrying about whether we're liked, let's take a step back and ask ourselves why. What is our motivation for trying to make a good impression? Is it to fit in, to be well-liked, or perhaps to appear better than we actually are? More importantly, why do we want others to think highly of us? Will that make us happier in the long run than if we live for another purpose?

I contend that when we predominantly focus on how others perceive us, we are being driven by extrinsic motivation. This in itself is not necessarily a condemnable stance, but it begs the question of whether we are living in accordance with our true selves. By seeking to impress others, we may inadvertently compromise our identity, beliefs, or core values. And the long-term result of such compromise, as suggested by motivation research, is an underlying shift in our internal compass, or intrinsic motivation. The values we hold most dear change over time if we constantly succumb to a hostile environment.

What is the opposite side of the coin? Focus our decisions on how they line up with our core values. What character traits do we most want to exemplify? What are our goals in life, both in the context of the immediate task and in terms of what type of person we would like to be? Most of us have heard of the classic advice to treat others as we would like to be treated. Although this may suggest some notion of reciprocity, thinking in such terms can lead to a critical lapse in understanding. What this is really saying  is that we should treat others in the way we believe to be most consistent with our personal values, since that is how we would most want to be treated. It does NOT mean that we should treat others expecting the same in return, although that could very well be a consequence. Actions for the sake of reciprocity by definition represent extrinsic motivation that will not provide us with the deeper-level fulfillment we get from intrinsically-motivated actions.

This is not to say that fulfilling our core values cannot align with trying to please others. Every situation is different, and we should always use our judgment when appropriate. I merely emphasize a shift in approach. Rather than just focusing on how much we're liked and how our actions might affect others, we should start by examining how our actions affect ourselves. Are they consistent with our core values and beliefs, or do they create a chasm in our identity? Once we mull this over, we then evaluate how a decision might affect others. In particular, is there a significant disconnect between fulfilling our own values and pleasing others? If so, is this because we have character flaws we need to work on? Or is it time to relocate to a new environment and find new friends?