Article
Article
Motivation
Article By:
Mook, Douglas G. Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.
Last reviewed:June 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.436000
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- Motivation, published June 2014:Download PDF
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The intentions, desires, goals, and needs that determine the behavior of humans and other animals. Motivation involves psychological factors and processes that arouse and guide goal-directed behaviors in animals, including humans. With regard to humans, the psychological forces that direct an individual's motivation determine his or her behavior responses, as well as orchestrating the levels of effort and persistence undertaken by that individual. In general, psychologists inquire about a person's motives in order to explain that person's actions. In addition, motivation is regarded as one part of the equation when judging the success or failure of the behavior responses. Other factors, including the abilities of the person and environmental conditions, also must be considered (Fig. 1). See also: Information processing (psychology); Neurobiology; Personality theory; Psychology
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