What motivates you? Understanding 5 types of motivation

Ethereal or Misfiled? Motivation is elusive, isn't it?!

It's utterly intangible, but when motivation feels low, it can make working towards any short, medium or long-term goals more difficult.

You, like me, might be glad to hear that there isn't one type of motivation. So if you think you're missing it, then perhaps it's more likely you've misfiled it.

One useful way of understanding motivation comes from Self-Determination Theory. It distinguishes intrinsic motivation from different forms of extrinsic motivation.

Here goes:

Intrinsic motivation

• You do something because you find the activity itself interesting, enjoyable or satisfying.
• The motivation comes from the activity rather than a separate reward or outcome.

External motivation

• You are being driven by an outside force.
• The outcome may involve a reward or a penalty.
• You do something because you have to do it.

Introjected motivation

• You act in order to avoid guilt, seek approval or respond to internal pressure.
• If you didn't do something, you might feel guilty.

Identified motivation

• You do something because you can see why it is important.
• That said, you will not necessarily enjoy it.

Integrated motivation

• You do something because you fully subscribe to the values underlying it.
• The reason for doing it fits with your wider values and sense of who you are.

It's a sliding scale

Having read this, you may realise that you are being motivated in some shape or form in many aspects of your life already.

It can be useful to notice where your motivation sits on this scale and whether you could connect some of the things you need to do more closely with your own reasons and values. Not everything needs to become intrinsically rewarding – we can probably leave parking tickets to the external variety.