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Psychology vocabulary · Emotion and Motivation

Motivation

Meaning in psychology, with examples

/ˌməʊtɪˈveɪʃən/nounCore term

In psychology, motivation means: The forces that start, direct and keep up behaviour towards a goal, such as needs, desires, rewards and personal values.

In Turkish: motivasyon, güdülenme, güdü

How it is used

Used in educational, work, health and clinical psychology. Researchers often contrast intrinsic and extrinsic motivation; clinicians see low motivation as a common feature of depression and use motivational interviewing to support change.

Example sentences

  1. Students' motivation dropped sharply when the rewards were removed.

  2. Lack of motivation is one of the first things clients with depression mention.

Common collocations

  • intrinsic motivation
  • extrinsic motivation
  • lack of motivation
  • motivational interviewing
  • intrinsic motivationThe drive to do something because it is interesting, enjoyable or meaningful in itself, rather than for an external reward or to avoid punishment.
  • reinforcementIn learning theory, any consequence that makes a behaviour more likely to happen again, either by adding something pleasant or by removing something unpleasant.
  • 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.
  • depressionA mental health condition marked by persistent low mood or loss of interest and pleasure, often with changes in sleep, appetite, energy and concentration.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Emotion and Motivation

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.