If you’ve ever watched a puppy play, you know that it’s pretty obvious what motivates them: the desire to explore, play, and have fun. You might also have noticed that young children behave in a similar way. These are both examples of behaviors that are instinct-based — they occur naturally and don’t need any outside motivation to keep them going. In other words, they’re intrinsically motivated. On the other side of the coin is extrinsic motivation — the desire to do something because we think it will bring us some kind of reward or positive outcome. When we talk about these two types of motivations (intrinsic vs extrinsic), we use them interchangeably with internal vs external sources of motivation too!
What is intrinsic motivation?
When we talk about intrinsic motivation, we’re referring to a desire to engage in an activity for its own sake. That is, you want to do something because you enjoy it and not because of some external factor like money or praise.
When it comes down to it, activities that are intrinsically motivating tend to be those where people choose how much time they spend working on them because they find those tasks enjoyable and fulfilling on their own terms rather than out of obligation or fear of punishment.
What is extrinsic motivation?
Extrinsic motivation is all about external factors. It’s what happens when you’re motivated by rewards and punishments, such as getting a raise or getting fired.
So here’s the thing: extrinsic motivation can be incredibly powerful for certain types of tasks — and in some cases it may be necessary to reach your goals — but it’s often associated with less satisfaction and more stress than intrinsic motivation would be.
Intrinsic motivation vs. extrinsic motivation: Which is better?
While it’s important to understand the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, don’t worry too much about which one is better. Both can be effective if you need to get started and then keep going. But if your goal is to sustain your motivation over time, intrinsic motivation is likely to be more effective than extrinsic.
How can I use intrinsic motivation in my life?
Make a list of the things that motivate you and make sure those things are in your life. If you love playing guitar, for example, make sure that there’s a guitar sitting at home waiting for you to pick it up. You don’t have to play every day or even often — the point is that when the mood strikes and inspiration hits, you’re ready and able to work on your passion project without feeling like “I’ll do it later.”
Make sure that your daily routine includes activities that bring out your inner motivation. Maybe this means setting aside 30 minutes each morning before work so that you can write down ideas for a novel or spend time with friends while they’re visiting town. The key is making sure these moments don’t feel like an obligation; instead, they should be something exciting and fulfilling on their own merits (and not just because someone else has asked).
How can I use extrinsic motivation in my life?
Extrinsic motivation can be a useful tool when leading a team and used appropriately. The idea is to encourage a particular behavior by offering a reward for doing it, but there are some important things to keep in mind when you’re planning how to use this technique.
For example, you should only give extrinsic rewards for something that was difficult or time-consuming, not just the expected outcome of a job well done.
Also make sure that extrinsic rewards aren’t handed out too often or your team will become dependent on them and lose interest in whatever they’re working toward.
With instinct-based behaviors, we have no choice but to be motivated from within.
For example, you cannot train yourself to feel hungry in order to motivate yourself to eat; your body will automatically make you hungry at the proper times. This is because hunger is an instinctual behavior — it occurs without any conscious effort or action on your part.
Similar examples of instinctive behaviors include drinking water when thirsty or sleeping when tired (assuming there are no external factors preventing these actions). You don’t need extrinsic rewards like money or praise from others in order for these tasks to become interesting and worthwhile enough for you do them over again tomorrow — they are just part of being human!
By contrast, extrinsic motivation relies primarily on artificial incentives such as money and praise for completing a task successfully (or coercion through fear).
Conclusion
Motivation is a complex subject, especially when it comes to understanding what drives us. We all have different needs and desires, but no matter who you are or what you want to accomplish in life, there is a way for you to stay motivated and keep on track with your goals. The key is finding the right mix of intrinsic motivation (the desire to do something because it feels good) versus extrinsic motivation (doing something because there’s some kind of reward attached).
Resources ⚡️
Link 1: simplypsychology.org/differences-between-ex.. Link 2: healthline.com/health/intrinsic-motivation