What is Intrinsic Motivation?

Like most of the previous concepts seen in this course, when we talk about intrinsic motivation we actually talk about the differences between traditional education and newer, more fresh and modern ideas. In this particular case, we do have to recognize that traditional education usually is centered on the foundation of extrinsic motivation, which is the opposite of intrinsic motivation. Extrinsic motivation pushes the student to partake and begin the process of learning on the idea that learning is obligatory and that if he succeeds, he will find a reward and that if he doesn’t succeed, he doesn’t try or if he cheats, he will instead find a punishment. It’s a very basic view of education that simply pushes the student to learn because he has too. Anyone that has ever given classes can confirm that extrinsic motivation often creates more problems than solutions. Students can be competitive and unsupportive of each other, they can find rewards unappealing and failure too scary. They are scared out of the idea of failing that they often prefer to not try at all, therefore skipping the risk of failure. By making education and learning as something obligatory, it becomes a burden and something to wish to be over, and this is only the beginning of the problems.

However, it’s quite the opposite when a student is pushed with an intrinsic motivation. In this scenario, the student doesn’t need a reward or punishment to continue researching, learning and working- he simply does it because it’s fun, he finds interest in it or just because he wants to. When the student is motivated to do the activity for himself, it’s often more sure that he will actually finish it and that the results will be much better. This doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have rewards- the rewards he seeks for are internal and personal, not promised in a classroom.

This is the principle that educators are trying to find behind gamification, for example. When a child plays a game he does it for pure interest and enjoyment of the game, the obstacles and the difficulty of overcoming them. No matter how though it is to pass a level, the child will find ways to do it and when he does, he will be much more satisfied and proud of his achievement. This is a classic textbook definition of intrinsic motivation, and it is what we desire to find in learning games: for the student to want to learn more, and try harder, using a game platform. We know that the student that is pushed with personal rewards and intrinsic motivation will try the best to overcome obstacles, will learn with more joy and excitement, and that the results will be better, more durable and always promising that he or she will want to continue learning, even after the school is over. This is what intrinsic motivation is all about.

Sources:

https://www.teachthought.com/learning/the-definition-of-intrinsic-motivation/

https://msu.edu/~dwong/StudentWorkArchive/CEP900F01-RIP/Webber-IntrinsicMotivation.htm

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-intrinsic-motivation-2795385