Definition, Cycle and Classification of Motivation

Motivation is a kind of internal energy which drives a person to do something in order to achieve something.

Definition of Motivation

According to John Al Vogel "Motivation refers to the process that initiates sustain and direct our behavior".

David W. Jabing defined as the cause of behavior and concerned with three major aspects of behavior

1. The initial and orientation of a behavior toward a specific goal.
2. The intensity or strength of behavior.
3. The sensation of behavior.

Characteristics 

1. The initiation and orientation of a behavior toward a specific goal.
2. The intensity or strength of a behavior.
3. The sensation of behavior

So motivation may be defined as the cause of behavior. In particular it is concerned with three major aspect of behavior.

Motivation Cycle

 

Need: The psychological deprivation in the body creates the needs. It is the lack of what we want. When the stimuli remains constant we don’t feel need. The tendency to restore a balanced condition in the body is known as Homeostasis. It is characterized by physiological functioning. The aroused condition motivates the organism to imitate behavior to remedy the need. For example, the person who is thirsty needs water. Similarly, a person may desire for power.

Drive: An internal motivational state that is created by a need is a drive. For example, a thirsty person seeks for water to satisfy his or her need. Search for water by a thirsty person can be translated into thirsty drive. Drive can activate more than one response. Drive is the internal tension state that builds up until they are satisfied.

Instrumental Behavior: Instrumental behavior is instigated by the driving state. For example drives an animal to explore water. Sooner or later this behavior succeeds, thereby reducing the need and the drive state , in other words , the animals exploratory behavior is instrumental in finding water and reducing the thirst.
 

Relaxation:
 

Goal: When instrumental behavior achieves its goal, the need is satisfied there follows a temporary period of relief. This is the third stage of motivational cycle. For example in thirst lack of water in the body produce need and a drive state, the organism has shown some explore behavior and finally he quenches his thirst by  drinking water, reaching the goal.

Classification of Motivation

Physiological motives: Hunger, thirst, sex, maternity, sleep etc.

Social motives: Security, sociability, fame, achievement, motives, need for recognition, need for power, need for prestige etc.

General motives: Desiring to know, enthusiasm etc.

Differences between Physiological Motivation and Social Motivation

Physiological Motive	Social Motive
Has physical base	Has not physical base
Essential to led one’s life	Not essential
In born	Based on learning
Existing in all animal	Not all animal
Essential for physical balance	Not essential