Intrinsic Motivation: 6 Methods To Boost Ourselves Through Our Interior
What is intrinsic motivation? What is the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation? Discover the power of motivation that comes intrinsically and how to promote it.
The intrinsic motivation It is that behavior that is driven through our internal rewards. Therefore, this intrinsic energy comes from within us because what we do is satisfying for ourselves.
This impulse intrinsic It is contrasted with extrinsic motivation, that is, those actions or behaviors that we perform only to obtain external rewards or to avoid harm. In this way, between these two types of motivation, intrinsic refers to those acts that we do because we perceive them as interesting. On the other hand, the extrinsic needs an external ingredient to allow us to achieve our objectives.
Within psychology, there are two types of motivation which are distinguished based on those rewards that are internal or external. When we refer to intrinsic motivation, psychologists refer to that motivation that occurs when people act without any external reward. Motivation, therefore, arises from the intrinsic since we see it as an opportunity to explore, enjoy and learn along with our potential.
Why does intrinsic motivation arise?
Within the scientific community there are some different theories to explain how it works and why the intrinsic motivation The most recognized theory to recognize the source of energy of the intrinsic was based on explaining the needs and impulses of people. On the one hand, experiencing hunger or thirst are needs that drive us to pursue our ability to survive.
In the same way that there are biological needs like the ones we have named, people also have certain psychological needs that must be satisfied in order to develop and prosper. This is where the intrinsic motivation
Differences between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
Mainly, the difference between the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is that in the first the source of the action is given by an internal energy. On the other hand, extrinsic requires an element that is outside of us. Research into these two motivations has shown that each of them has a different effect on our behavior.
According to studies around the intrinsic and the extrinsic, offering external rewards for behavior that is already rewarding in itself can reduce our intrinsic motivation. This phenomenon is called the overjustification effect.
The extrinsic motivation It is not a bad thing in itself, in fact it can be very beneficial in some situations. For example, these types of motivations can be very useful when people need to complete a task that is already unpleasant.
Why is ‘positive motivation’ beneficial?
In many cases, be intrinsically motivated It is associated with a more positive motivation. The reason for this is that when the source of our behavior comes from within, people tend to have a more positive attitude towards the task or action they must perform.
Besides, the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic is that the latter requires an external factor, that is, we depend on others or on the outside in order to achieve our objectives.
The actions or behaviors intrinsically motivated They tend to be more beneficial for our mental health, since the rewards obtained are based on positive emotions for the individual.
What makes us have more intrinsic motivations?
There are a series of factors that cause us to feel more intrinsic motivations that extrinsic. In this way, enhancing these types of aspects can make people feel more energy when they don’t feel like doing anything. According to psychologists, intrinsic motivation has the following factors.
Curiosity: When we are curious, people we motivate to explore and learn about us and our surroundings.
Challenge: Setting challenges is typical of people who are motivated. intrinsically In this way, through these types of motivations people can work at a more optimal level.
Control: Control is the basic desire to be able to control what happens to us and we exercise it by trying to use the motivation to make decisions that affect our results.
Recognition: All individuals are born with the innate need to be appreciated by the people around them. In these cases, people use the idea of ​​recognition as a intrinsic motivation towards your objectives.
Cooperation: Thanks to cooperating with others, people feel more united to others. This is also a facet of the intrinsic motivation
Competence: Competence is how we evaluate ourselves through our actions. The motivation It then arises from trying to do a task well to validate our ability to do it.
Fancy: Fantasies involve the use of mental images to stimulate our behavior intrinsic
It is obvious that encouraging greater intrinsic motivation It is beneficial not only for our mental health but also for achieving all the goals we set for ourselves. For this reason, there are a series of methods that you can apply to your daily life to make your behavior more motivated by the intrinsic than by the extrinsic.
Find fun: Even though you are faced with a task that seems boring, you can always change the perspective to make it seem much more interesting. This way, if you are working you can always focus on the positive to foster a intrinsic motivation
Find a meaning: When we give a deep meaning to what we do, that is, a purpose that has value for us, our motivation is completely intrinsic Therefore, whatever task you are facing, try to give it a deeper meaning for you.
Take it as a challenge: Instead of seeking rewards through external elements, try to see in each task you perform a way to challenge yourself. Think that thanks to them you will be able to develop a skill, that is, that you will improve as a person.
Help the others: Experiencing gratitude from others is one way to foster a more intrinsic attitude The reason for this is that through these small compliments you feel better about yourself and you can see what surrounds you with more positivity.
Create a list: In order to have more intrinsic motivation A good idea is to make a list of those things you have always wanted to do. Once you have it, it is important that you spend time every day trying to take baby steps to achieve those goals.
Use visualization: Before starting any task, visualize a moment when you felt proud and accomplished and focus on the positive feelings you experience while completing the task.
Sometimes people cannot access our intrinsic motivation because there is a problem within us. For this reason, if you think this is your case or you feel that you are not motivated enough, it may be a good decision to go to a professional psychologist. Only through internal work will we achieve the motivation to achieve everything we want.
