motivaci

Motivation is the set of internal and external processes that initiate, guide, and sustain goal-directed behavior. It explains why individuals choose particular actions, how much effort they invest, and how long they persist to achieve desired outcomes.

Several theories describe the origins and structure of motivation. Expectancy-value theory links motivation to beliefs about the likelihood of success and the value of the goal. Self-Determination Theory emphasizes autonomous motivation arising from the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Maslow's hierarchy proposes a sequence of needs, and goal-setting theory focuses on how specific goals influence performance.

Motivation is often categorized as intrinsic—driven by internal satisfaction—and extrinsic—driven by external rewards. Amotivation is a lack of intentional motivation. Other constructs include achievement motivation and need-based theories. Environmental factors such as feedback, social support, and incentives shape motivation; cognitive factors such as self-efficacy and expectancy influence it too.

Measurement typically relies on self-report questionnaires and behavioral indicators. In education and work, motivation relates to engagement, persistence, and performance. Interventions aim to nurture intrinsic motivation by providing meaningful tasks, autonomy, feedback, and opportunities for mastery.

Critics note challenges in measuring motivation across cultures and contexts, and warn that extrinsic rewards can undermine intrinsic motivation under certain conditions (the overjustification effect). Cultural values influence what goals are valued and how motivation is expressed.

See also: intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, self-determination theory, Maslow's hierarchy of needs, expectancy-value theory, goal-setting theory, intrinsic rewards.