Running Header: CURRENT PSYCHOLOGICAL LITERATURE INTO MOTIVATION 1
How might psychological research help undergraduate students to do well in their degree?
Describe and discuss current psychological literature into the field of motivation.
, CURRENT PSYCHOLOGICAL LITERATURE INTO MOTIVATION 2
Motivation can be defined as an internal state which gives behaviour a specific
direction when activated and has an influence on an individual’s needs and desires
(Kleinginna and Kleinginna, 1981). Franken (2006) further described motivation as the
persistence of behaviour. This means that motivation is a fundamental feature in directing
human behaviour, as, when an individual makes a choice, the choice is influenced by the
levels of motivation the individual has to make that choice. For example, in students, the
motivation which the individual has will reflect the way in how they chose to learn the
information regarding the specific subject. The majority of motivation theories state that
behaviour will not occur unless it is activated through motivational factors. For example,
there is a point to where people respond to situations that increase in complexity or novelty
(Yerkes & Dodson, 1908). However, after the peak point, the rate of responding to the
situation decreases. Therefore, motivation decreases if a situation becomes too complicated
for the individual.
The 3 X 2 achievement goal model (Elliot, Murayama & Pekrun, 2011) is composed
of 6 goals: a task approached goal, in which the individual focuses to do the task correctly, a
task avoidance goal, where the individual avoids to do the task incorrectly, a self approach
goal, which puts emphasis on doing better at a task than before. Furthermore, the model
consists of the self-avoidance goal, in which the individual avoids doing worse than before.
The other approach goal puts emphasis on the individual doing better than others and, lastly,
the other avoidance goal is where the individual avoids doing worse than others. These tasks
are separated into absolute, intrapersonal and interpersonal definitions which are further
separated into either positive or negative valence. Positive valance deals with approaching
success while negative valence is associated with avoiding failure.
How might psychological research help undergraduate students to do well in their degree?
Describe and discuss current psychological literature into the field of motivation.
, CURRENT PSYCHOLOGICAL LITERATURE INTO MOTIVATION 2
Motivation can be defined as an internal state which gives behaviour a specific
direction when activated and has an influence on an individual’s needs and desires
(Kleinginna and Kleinginna, 1981). Franken (2006) further described motivation as the
persistence of behaviour. This means that motivation is a fundamental feature in directing
human behaviour, as, when an individual makes a choice, the choice is influenced by the
levels of motivation the individual has to make that choice. For example, in students, the
motivation which the individual has will reflect the way in how they chose to learn the
information regarding the specific subject. The majority of motivation theories state that
behaviour will not occur unless it is activated through motivational factors. For example,
there is a point to where people respond to situations that increase in complexity or novelty
(Yerkes & Dodson, 1908). However, after the peak point, the rate of responding to the
situation decreases. Therefore, motivation decreases if a situation becomes too complicated
for the individual.
The 3 X 2 achievement goal model (Elliot, Murayama & Pekrun, 2011) is composed
of 6 goals: a task approached goal, in which the individual focuses to do the task correctly, a
task avoidance goal, where the individual avoids to do the task incorrectly, a self approach
goal, which puts emphasis on doing better at a task than before. Furthermore, the model
consists of the self-avoidance goal, in which the individual avoids doing worse than before.
The other approach goal puts emphasis on the individual doing better than others and, lastly,
the other avoidance goal is where the individual avoids doing worse than others. These tasks
are separated into absolute, intrapersonal and interpersonal definitions which are further
separated into either positive or negative valence. Positive valance deals with approaching
success while negative valence is associated with avoiding failure.
