Specific Motivation

Specific Motivation Theory Definition

Numerous motivation theories show just how complex motivation is. People get motivation differently, and your motivation may not necessarily work for another person. Specific motivation theory explains the ways that drive us to act through specific motivations. But first, what is specific motivation?

Fg. 1 Two men playing basketball depicting competence motivation, pexels.com

One way specific motivation works is through positive reinforcement. When a person's efforts are successful, coupled with positive feedback from significant people (e.g., family, friends, and teachers) in his life, he begins to internalize a standard of excellence he sets for himself, increasing his sense of competence. A high sense of competence encourages him to take on more challenging tasks and exert tremendous effort. As significant people influence motivation, the relevance of the positive reinforcement also matters, and the basis of evaluation, such as the outcome or personal mastery.

Specific motivations, such as the affiliation motive, work when people experience emotional triggers (e.g., fear, anxiety, and joy). The interplay of biological and social elements is at the heart of affiliation behavior, as evidenced by our ancestors' forming social attachments, which helped them in their ability to survive and reproduce. Social attachments offered our ancestors access to basic needs and other material resources.

So, what is specific motivation theory?

Specific Motivation Theory Examples

Harter's Competence Motivation Theory

In her competence motivation theory, Susan Harter suggested that people participate in activities based on their perceived competence. She built on the work of Robert White, who introduced "effectance" to describe the motivation to join with and influence his surroundings. According to White, if a person achieves success, he will continue interacting with his environment.

This idea is central to Harter's motivation theory with a few modifications:

• Individuals have differing perceived competence in many aspects (e.g., intellectual abilities and social skills)

• They are motivated to exhibit competence in all of these areas.

• Competence motivation improves when people succeed in their tasks and receive socio-emotional support from their loved ones.

Achievement Motivation Theory

According to David McClelland, everyone strives for a particular level of excellence, defined as achievement motivation. People with high achievement motivation choose somewhat difficult activities that offer satisfaction but at the same time avoid too easy or impossible tasks. People with low achievement motivation choose very easy or unachievable activities to prevent accounting for themselves for failure.

Protection Motivation Theory

Ronald Rogers introduced the idea that people are motivated to protect themselves and others upon perceiving danger or threat. A person determines his response by evaluating the threat's severity and the possibility of it happening. He also looks at how effective the response will be, the difficulty of enacting the response, and his own ability beliefs to cope. If a person believes that the threat is not that severe and the cost of adopting a new behavior is more costly, he may deny or minimize the danger.

Four Types of Motivation

We all have activities that we like because they are enjoyable. This enjoyment stems from intrinsic motivation.

Intrinsic motivation is the inner determination to do something for the sake of doing it rather than for a reward. Individuals who rely more on intrinsic motivation have greater mental health overall.

But, intrinsic motivation doesn't always last as extrinsic motivation can occur in performing a task, which is the overjustification effect.

When a child does a chore in exchange for a toy, his motivation to do the task is extrinsic.

Extrinsic motivation refers to a desire to engage in a behavior in exchange for an outside (extrinsic) reward, which includes recognition, money, and material things.

Earlier perspectives on motivation state that behaviors brought about by extrinsic motivation were non-determined due to lack of choice. Still, research (Deci & Ryan, 2004) identified four types of extrinsic motivation according to levels of self-determination to non-determination.

The types of extrinsic motivation are external, introjected, identified, and integrated regulation.

1. External regulation is the least self-determined extrinsic motivation to achieve an end state separate from the behavior.

2. Introjected regulation is extrinsic motivation involving actions driven by internal pressures such as guilt or shame.

3. Identified regulation is extrinsic motivation involving actions driven by reasons deemed important by the individual.

4. Integrated regulation is the most self-determined extrinsic motivation involving actions consistent with one's identity. A person's motivation is in line with his values.

When you know that there's a task to be done but haven't acted upon it, that indicates identified motivation.

In identified motivation, the person sees the need to act, but the desire hasn't entirely materialized, so he doesn't do anything about it yet. This motivation gradually builds up over time.

Introjected motivation mostly reflects the negative side of motivation; internal pressures become the motivation for a person to act.

Situation-Specific Motivation

Situational motivation refers to the motivation at the present moment while performing an activity. This motivation presents itself based on the situation. Situation-specific motivations can change depending on the task's characteristics and other factors.

Fg. 2 A college student taking an exam, pexels.com

Specific Intrinsic Motivation

In the long run, intrinsic motivation proves to be more effective in attaining goals. You find enjoyment and deeper meaning in your activities when you have intrinsic motivation. This kind of motivation is rooted in inner satisfaction regardless of the outcome.

There are three types of intrinsic motivation (Vallerand et al. 1989, 1992, 1993):

1. Intrinsic motivation to know is motivation through the enjoyment of gaining knowledge and skills.

2. Intrinsic motivation to accomplish things is motivation through feelings of fulfillment from achievements.

3. Intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation is motivation through sensory stimulation experienced during an activity.

Types: Theory of Motivation

There are two types of motivation theories: content and process theories.

The content theories of motivation emphasize our needs as central to our motivation. Motivation ceases when the need has already been satisfied.

The process theories of motivation highlight the purpose and course of action we take that leads to behavior, including goal planning and the work we put in to achieve our goals.

Task-Specific Motivation Theory

There is no single theory that thoroughly explains what determines task motivation. There are a lot of conflicting ideas in the science of motivation. So, a unified model of task-specific motivation has been put forward to understand this phenomenon. Task-specific factors are assumed to interact, leading to overall task motivation.

Expected value is the perceived value of an activity resulting from the interaction of four valences: affective, cognitive, positive, and negative.

Affective vs. Cognitive Valences

Affective valences are positive emotional responses (e.g., pleasure) in the anticipation and execution of an activity. In comparison, cognitive valences are the value assessment of the activity's projected outcomes. These two types of valences function as two distinct motivation regulators but still interact with one another in which they sometimes support or oppose one another, influencing task motivation.

Positive vs. Negative Valences

Approach motivation, arising from positive valences, is motivation from pleasant feelings to achieve one's goals. This motivation consists of activities that move toward the reward. On the other hand, avoidance motivation arises from negative valences. Avoidance motivation comprises actions intended to avoid aversive situations. This motivation also includes initiating thoughts and activities to prevent the intended action.

Other factors influencing task motivation are expected feasibility, autonomy, relatedness, and subjective norm.

1. Expected feasibility is the belief in personal competence and situational factors (e.g., available external support) influencing motivation.

2. Autonomy reflects how one perceives himself as the sole source of his decisions and the sense of freedom in planning his course of action.

3. Relatedness is the sense of belonging or connection a person feels towards the people involved in the motivated action.

4. Subjective norm is the tendency to conform to the standards of persons significant to the motivated action.