Okuzeka
Psychology vocabulary · Emotion and Motivation

Intrinsic motivation

Meaning in psychology, with examples

nounCommon term

In psychology, intrinsic motivation means: The drive to do something because it is interesting, enjoyable or meaningful in itself, rather than for an external reward or to avoid punishment.

In Turkish: içsel motivasyon, içsel güdülenme

How it is used

Central to self-determination theory (Deci and Ryan) and to research in education and work. It is contrasted with extrinsic motivation; studies of the undermining effect suggest that some rewards can reduce intrinsic motivation.

Example sentences

  1. Children who drew for fun showed less intrinsic motivation after they were promised a prize for drawing.

  2. Giving students real choices can support intrinsic motivation.

Common collocations

  • intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
  • undermine intrinsic motivation
  • self-determination theory
  • motivationThe forces that start, direct and keep up behaviour towards a goal, such as needs, desires, rewards and personal values.
  • reinforcementIn learning theory, any consequence that makes a behaviour more likely to happen again, either by adding something pleasant or by removing something unpleasant.
  • self-esteemA person's overall judgement of their own worth, that is, how much they value, accept and respect themselves.
  • emotionA short-lived reaction such as fear, joy, anger or sadness that involves a feeling, changes in the body and an urge to act in a certain way.

More terms: Emotion and Motivation

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