📘 MOTIVATION

Understanding Human Behavior, Views of Motivation, and its Application in Organizations

🔍 What is Motivation?

Motivation is the inner drive or desire that pushes a person to act in a certain way or achieve a goal.
It explains why people do what they do.

🔹 Three Patterns of Human Behavior That Indicate Motivation

Choice of Behavior
- What action does a person choose to take?
- Example: A student chooses to study instead of playing games.
Level of Effort
- How much energy does a person put into an activity?
- Example: A worker puts extra effort into completing a task on time.
Persistence
- How long does a person stay committed to a task?
- Example: An athlete keeps training despite challenges.

🔹 Intrinsic vs. Behaviorist Views of Motivation

Aspect	Intrinsic View	Behaviorist View
Definition	Motivation comes from within (personal interest)	Motivation is shaped by external rewards/punishment
Focus	Internal drive, curiosity, enjoyment	Observable behavior and outcomes
Examples	A student studies because they love learning	A student studies to get a good grade or prize
Strengths	Encourages creativity and long-term engagement	Clear, measurable behavior change
Weaknesses	Harder to measure or influence	Can reduce motivation if rewards stop

📌 Key Point: Intrinsic motivation is self-driven. Behaviorist motivation depends on external consequences.

🔹 Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Howard Gardner identified that intelligence is not just one ability (like IQ), but multiple types, including:

Linguistic – words and language
Logical-mathematical – numbers and reasoning
Musical – rhythm and sound
Bodily-kinesthetic – movement and coordination
Spatial – visualizing in the mind
Interpersonal – understanding others
Intrapersonal – understanding oneself
Naturalistic – nature and environment

💡 Relation to Organizational Motivation

Different employees are motivated by different things based on their dominant intelligences.
For example:
- A person with interpersonal intelligence may be motivated by teamwork and collaboration.
- A person with logical intelligence may enjoy solving technical challenges.

📌 Key Point: Organizations can increase motivation by recognizing and using diverse intelligences.

🔹 Understanding B = f(P.E) in Motivation

This formula was introduced by Kurt Lewin, a social psychologist.

B = f(P.E)

B = Behavior
f = Function
P = Person (personality, needs, motivation)
E = Environment (situation, surroundings, culture)

👉 Meaning:
Behavior is a result of the interaction between a person and their environment.

Example:
A motivated student (P) in a supportive classroom (E) will likely show productive behavior (B).
But the same student in a stressful or negative environment may behave differently.

📌 Key Point: To understand or change behavior, we must look at both the person and the environment.

🧠 Summary for Students

Concept	Key Point
Motivation	Internal or external force that drives behavior
Patterns of Motivated Behavior	Choice, effort, persistence
Intrinsic View	Motivation from within (passion, interest)
Behaviorist View	Motivation through rewards/punishments
Multiple Intelligences	People have different kinds of “smarts”
Motivation in Organizations	Match tasks and rewards to people’s strengths
B = f(P.E)	Behavior is shaped by both the person and the environment

✅ Final Thoughts

Understanding motivation helps teachers, leaders, and students create better environments where people feel inspired to grow and perform well. Different people are motivated in different ways—and recognizing that is the first step to real progress.