Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface to the Second English Edition
- Contributors
- 1 Motivation and Action: Introduction and Overview
- 2 Historical Trends in Motivation Research
- 3 Trait Theories of Motivation
- 4 Situational Determinants of Behavior
- 5 Motivation as a Function of Expectancy and Incentive
- 6 Achievement Motivation
- 7 Social Bonding: Affiliation Motivation and Intimacy Motivation
- 8 Power Motivation
- 9 Implicit and Explicit Motives
- 10 Biopsychological Aspects of Motivation
- 11 Motivation and Volition in the Course of Action
- 12 Individual Differences in Self-Regulation
- 13 Intrinsic Motivation and Flow
- 14 Causal Attribution of Behavior and Achievement
- 15 Motivation and Development
- References
- Index
13 - Intrinsic Motivation and Flow
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 August 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface to the Second English Edition
- Contributors
- 1 Motivation and Action: Introduction and Overview
- 2 Historical Trends in Motivation Research
- 3 Trait Theories of Motivation
- 4 Situational Determinants of Behavior
- 5 Motivation as a Function of Expectancy and Incentive
- 6 Achievement Motivation
- 7 Social Bonding: Affiliation Motivation and Intimacy Motivation
- 8 Power Motivation
- 9 Implicit and Explicit Motives
- 10 Biopsychological Aspects of Motivation
- 11 Motivation and Volition in the Course of Action
- 12 Individual Differences in Self-Regulation
- 13 Intrinsic Motivation and Flow
- 14 Causal Attribution of Behavior and Achievement
- 15 Motivation and Development
- References
- Index
Summary
Introduction
DEFINITION
Motivation can be defined as the “activating orientation of current life pursuits toward a positively evaluated goal state”.
(Rheinberg, 2004a, p. 17)The purpose of a definition of this kind is to describe the essential qualities of a term as succinctly as possible. Finer points have to be considered separately.
In the present case, at least two points need further elaboration:
The “positively evaluated goal state” may be to avoid or prevent undesired events. The qualities of avoidance motivation may differ from those of approach motivation (Chapters 4–9).
The second point is rather more complicated, and is the focus of the present chapter. When, as here, the definition of motivation focuses on a goal state, there is a risk of premature conclusions being drawn about where the incentives motivating behavior are located. It is easy to assume that the goal state has incentive value, and that the pursuit of the goal-directed activity is purely instrumental to bringing about that goal state, i.e., that the appeal of an activity resides solely in its intended outcomes. This is the approach taken by scholars such as Heckhausen (1977b) and Vroom (1964).
Unfortunately, this rather rash conclusion sometimes holds and sometimes does not. It is beyond question that people often engage in activities simply because they want to achieve or modify a particular goal state.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Motivation and Action , pp. 323 - 348Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008
- 61
- Cited by