Written By: Destany Filicetti

Human behaviour is driven by motivation. Motivation arises from many different aspects in our lives and our environment, whether it be from incentives, environmental pressures or a desire for internal fulfillment.

Motivation by nature, stimulates action and provides internal or external rewards. Therefore, motivation provides insight to human nature - why we do certain things, why we think a certain way, and why we behave a particular way.

Regardless of where our motivation comes from, it is important to understand the different types of motivation and when each one is best to use in various situations

Why Motivation Is Important

It is perfectly normal to not always feel motivated. Many of us believe that feeling motivated means feeling excited and energized about the task at hand. In reality, motivation has more to do with stimulating action in a specific scenario. The type of motivation we feel is what will determine our feelings towards the task.

Therefore it is critical to understand the different types of motivation to determine why we strive for success in certain circumstances, why we choose the goals we set, and why we pursue particular opportunities.

Motivation can stem from inside or outside of the individual, which can have varying effects on behaviours, interests, and values.

Extrinsic Motivation

Actions that are performed on the basis or assumption that a reward will be provided or to avoid punishment are considered extrinsically motivated. Extrinsic motivation is the desire to take action to gain external rewards such as money, praise, or trophies. This type of motivation can be hard to avoid because we have all been required to complete tasks that we have no desire to participate in. An incentive, in these types of situations, serves as motivation. If I perform X I will receive Y.

Some examples of extrinsic motivation include:

Volunteering at a food bank to gain hours for graduation or work
Doing school work to receive a good grade
Choosing a career path based on the salary range
Joining a loyalty program to receive rewards
Donating to charity to receive a tax break
Working additional hours or taking on extra tasks to boost your performance and get a promotion

Intrinsic Motivation

Engaging in an activity for your own development or enjoyment is considered intrinsic motivation. This type of motivation provides internal rewards, generating positive emotions and a sense of satisfaction. It is considered internal motivation because it is free of outside influence such as money, praise, or trophies. This type of motivation involves envisioning tasks as a learning opportunity or a chance to understand your potential.

Some examples of Intrinsic motivation include:

Volunteering at a food bank because you enjoy helping others
Studying a subject because you are interested in it
Choosing a career path because you are passionate about it
Donating to a charity because it is for a cause that you support
Working additional hours or taking on extra tasks because you enjoy your work and a challenge

When to Use Each Type of Motivation

Both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation serve an important purpose in different scenarios.

When Intrinsic Motivation Is Best

Intrinsic Motivation is best suited to situations when you hold some inherent interest in the task or activity. This inherent interest creates the intrinsic motivation to explore the possibilities of the task, encouraging you to learn and creating a natural sense of accomplishment.

Intrinsic motivation produces internal rewards because it is closely associated with something you value. Some of the benefits of intrinsic motivation include:

Increased feelings of happiness
Better performance
Greater persistence
Enhanced engagement
Improved physical and mental well being

Though intrinsic motivation may be more ideal, it is not always possible. Some tasks may be difficult to perform unless there is an incentive.

When Extrinsic Motivation Is Best

Extrinsic motivation is best suited to situations when your interest is lacking. Performing tasks that are undesirable can be extremely difficult, however when an incentive is proposed, it can make the task slightly more appealing. The incentive (money, praise or rewards) acts as the motivational factor because of the desire for its benefits.

Extrinsic motivation is generally used in the workplace. Not everyone enjoys going to work therefore the company provides a salary or wage to incentivize employees to complete the tasks associated with their job. The use of external rewards can be beneficial in increasing productivity and providing a sense of short term accomplishment.

When Not To Use Extrinsic Motivation

Both types of motivation are important however extrinsic motivation can alter our desire and appreciation for certain activities. Because intrinsic motivation is based on engaging in behaviour that is internally rewarding, it becomes dangerous when something is expected in return for completing a task that you already enjoy. This can be described as the overjustification effect.

For example, if you enjoy writing music and become incentivized to write a different genre for a large sum of money, you may lose interest in writing music because you are no longer doing it for the internal rewards. This does not necessarily mean that extrinsic motivation is bad, it is just better suited to tasks that are not enjoyable and would be easier to perform if there were other benefits.

Balancing Motivation

Although very different, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are equally important in taking action. Due to the many positive internal benefits, intrinsic motivation should be prioritized over extrinsic motivation. Avoiding the overjustification effect is critical to maintaining intrinsic motivation in order to preserve your natural drive, free of coercion. Extrinsic motivation cannot always be avoided because we all share different ideals and interests, therefore this type of motivation is necessary during times of disinterest in performing particular tasks.

Knowing what you know now, you can strategically use motivation to work best for you, as you prepare for success in a variety of circumstances.

To learn more about motivation, take a look at our Personal Development resources here

Making Motivation Work For You: Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation