Intrinsic Motivation
Three Causality Orientations 3. Impersonal
- Some people are in an environment where there is a disconnect between what you do and the outcome that befalls you. There is no contingency between behaviors and outcomes. Ex) abuse. When we find ourselves in these types of environments we are more likely to develop an impersonal causality orientation. A) Interpretation as incompetence - interpret information in the world as a sign of incompetence. Big focus on failure. Ex) I did not do as well as I should have so I am worthless, incompetent. B) Experience a-motivation and passivity - why behave with intentionality? Why not let the world move me in whatever way it will? It is not the case that Person A is an autonomous person etc. we all have each of these personalities in us and the causality orientations within us. The importance is the relative balance.
Internalization
- The key concept in Organismic Integration Theory. Is defined as the natural, active process of coming to endorse the value of a behavior that is not intrinsically motivated but that nonetheless is important for effective social function. Really important for the initiation and maintenance of extrinsically motivated behaviors. Ex) If I want my child to do the dishes I can approach this in two ways. I can give her rewards or consequences and she will likely do it. I can also do it by providing explanations. I want my kid to adapt the value of cleaning the dishes and to do so even in my absence.
External Regulation
- The least autonomous, the least internalized type of extrinsic motivation is called external regulation. We do the behavior to obtain some reward or to avoid some consequence. The promising of a reward or of a punishment spurs you into action. The locus of causality is completely external and the source behavior is outside of the person. Ex) Mother wants to quit smoking because her children tell her it is a bad habit. Husband cannot stand to be around her when she smokes. Motivation is external.
Three Causality Orientations 2. Controlled
- To the extent over time that we find ourselves in environments that are pressuring and controlling we are more likely to develop a controlled orientation. A) look to External cues/demands as initiator of their behavior - the world wants me to think, feel, behave in a particular way B) Interpretation of world as controlling - interpret the world around them as controlling. Ex) I should be doing better this. I must study harder. C) Regulate behavior with an experience of control
Three Causality Orientations 1. Autonomy Orientation
- To the extent that we find ourselves over time in environments that are need supportive we are more likely to develop an autonomy causality orientation. A) use their own needs as initiator of behavior -People with a high level of Autonomy Orientation ask: what are my needs that are pressing for satisfaction now? They have a sense of awareness, mindfulness, reflection that informs ones behavior. B) Interpretation as informational - when they look at the world in the way the world responds to them they look at those responses as information. Ex) Student doesn't do well on test. Asks himself, How can I do better on the next one? What am I missing? C) Regulate behavior with experience of autonomy
Integrated Regulation
- we not only understand the value of the behavior but we have also synthesized that value, with other important values in our life. The behavior fits with other aspects of myself, it aligns with other values I have in my life. Ex) the person may say not only have I thought deeply about this life change but I really want to live to see my grandchildren, I am going to live to see my children grow older and have children. That is a value of mine and I cant realize that value unless I change.
Introjected regulation
- we take the contingency that was applied to us by others and apply it to ourselves. That voice in your head that tells you, I should not do this, I should do this, is the voice of Introjections (the judge). This is a very fluctuating experience. When we live up to our Introjected standards we feel pride, self worth and self esteem. However, when we don't we feel guilty, ashamed, and worthless. Because Introjections is based in contingencies of reinforcement, The perceived locus of causality is somewhat external. The behavior is a little bit internalized but still experienced with pressure, coercive and control. Ex) I wanna quit because I cannot stand to think about myself as an addicted person. I don't like myself because of it. There is motivation but now we see contingencies of reinforcement applied to oneself.
Indentified Regulation
- we understand the importance of the behavior in our own lives. We thought deeply about the action and with a high level of refection we say yes I endorse the behavior. Experienced as somewhat internal. Ex) I thought deeply about smoking and about the health consequences of this habit. I understand it can take away life years and the quality of them and because that I want to change. There is motivation but the sense is one of freedom, of autonomy.
Correlates of causality orientations -
1. autonomy orientation - report high levels of self actualization, self esteem, ego development, and are much more likely to support the autonomy of others. 2. Controlled Orientation - Higher levels of public self consciousness, type A personality (perfectionist, a workaholic - they are more likely to get heart attacks), 3. Impersonal Orientation- self derogation, depression, social anxiety. Low levels of ego development and self esteem
What conditions facilitate intrinsic motivation?
Autonomy-relevant Absence of pressure Goal choice Strategy choice Task involvement Promotion of task interest Competence-relevant Optimal challenge Positive feedback Informational rewards Relatedness-relevant Empathy Warmth Security of attachment
What conditions undermine intrinsic motivation?
Autonomy-relevant Pressure toward specific outcome Punishment contingencies Goal imposition Deadlines Controlling rewards Ego-involvement Surveillance Competence-relevant Non-optimal challenges Negative feedback Relatedness-relevant "Cold" interactions Lack of positive involvement
Deci's (1971) Experiment
Background: Richard DeCharms Hypothesis - If you take a behavior that is intrinsically motivated, that has an internal perceived locus of causality and you reinforce that behavior, then doing so will cause a shift in the perceived locus of causality from internal to external and intrinsic motivation will be undermined. The undermining experiment - Ed Deci was the first person to test Decharm's hypothesis. Take a behavior that is intrinsically motivated (SOMA puzzle).
The Behaviorists Respond
Behaviorists claimed the undermining effect was a "myth" Eisenberger and Cameron (American Psychologist, 1996) Academic fraud SDT's meta-analysis of undermining effects Deci, Koestner, and Ryan (Psychological Bulletin, 1999)
Organismic Integration Theory
Differentiation of extrinsic motivation and facilitation of internalization
A Continuum of Internalization
Extrinsic motivation does not stand in stark contrast to intrinsic motivation. Not all extrinsic motivation is controlled, rather there are different types of extrinsic motivation and those different types are differentiated according to their level of perceived autonomy.
Causality Orientations Theory
Focus is on Individual differences in general motivational styles. We can think about motivation around a particular activity or behavior. We can think about extrinsic motivation for a behavior. I am extrinsically motivated for school. Autonomy can be experienced in that domain. Each one of us walks around the world with a certain motivational style. You may walk around with a sense of autonomy. You ask the question what are my needs and how do they inform my behavior, not what do others want me to do.
Effects of Rewards on Free Choice Behavior
If you look across all studies that focus on rewards there is a significant undermining effect of rewards on intrinsic motivation. Verbal rewards have a positive effect on intrinsic motivation for adults Tangible rewards - negative effect on intrinsic motivation Rewards must be expected Rewards must be contingent - all contingent rewards undermine intrinsic motivation - they do for adults and more for children
Factors that Facilitate Internalization
In the same way that basic psychological needs support intrinsic motivation, so too basic psychological needs support the process of internalization. To the extent that people around us provide support for our autonomy, competence and relatedness, we are more likely to internalize the value of extrinsically motivated behaviors and regulate those actions with an experience of autonomy, psychological freedom and reflective self endorsement.
Correlates of Autonomous Motivation
In various life domains, autonomous motivation is associated with higher levels of: a) Task persistence and performance - Ex) school. To the extent that students are autonomously motivated they are more likely to stay in school and do well in school. b) Task interest, enjoyment, and creativity - useful in school and work context c) Relationship quality d) Psychological and physical health Autonomy has functional benefits: Across development- Children flourish when their autonomy is supported. When they are given opportunities to be self initiating and when they are given opportunities to explore. The same is with all other ages. Across cultures - Throughout all cultures there is a sense of universal functional benefit associated with autonomous motivation
From where do Causality Orientations develop??
Individual differences and Causality Orientations Develop as a function of repeated exposure to different types of environments. Some environments encourage you and take your point of view. What are your thoughts and feelings in this environment. Other environments, less need supportive environments tell you, you should think, feel, behave in particular ways.
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic Motivation: To act for the inherent satisfaction of an activity Extrinsic Motivation: To act to obtain some separable outcome. We do the activity because there is some separable consequence associated with it. As we age the majority of our activities are extrinsically motivated. Can extrinsic motivation be internalized? Can we come to regulate extrinsically motivated behaviors with an experience of psychological freedom, volition and self endorsement.
Factors that Support Intrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic motivation - Behavior that is inherently satisfying and that occurs spontaneously Within Self Determination Theory there are two proximal supports for intrinsic motivation (two psychological needs) Support for autonomy. Basic psychological need for autonomy Support for competence, typically this takes the form of Optimal Challenges (challenges that are a bit beyond your current level and ability. You can be intrinsically motivated in isolation. However, Support for relatedness is also a distal support for intrinsic motivation. Idea is when we have secure attachments in life, loving relationships we are more likely to go out into the world and experience intrinsic motivation
SOMA puzzles Two conditions Free choice paradigm Results Interpretation
SOMA puzzles - involves a set of three dimensional objects and participants are given a drawing in three dimensions that they are asked to replicate with the blocks. Participants do this for one session and you have a base line level of intrinsic motivation. Two conditions - Undergraduates were broken into one of two conditions. Some undergraduates received a reward. They were told in a second session, for every SOMA puzzle you complete I will give you one dollar. Participants in a second group were told this is your activity. There was no mention of reward or money. (controlled condition). After the participants completed the task, they filled out some self report measures. However, the copier broke down so I need to go and make some copies so I will be back in a little while. The researcher observed the participant while pretending to go and make copies. Free choice paradigm - Participants were told you can do whatever you want (play with some more SOMA puzzles, etc.). For 8 minutes the researcher observed the behavior of the participants. Results - Deci found that participants in the reward group spent less time with the SOMA puzzles than participants who were not rewarded. Interpretation - the receiving of a reward undermined intrinsic motivation. It caused a shift in the perceived locus of causality from internal to external.
Autonomous versus Controlled Motivation Controlled motivation -
To be coerced, pressured, obligated, into thinking, feeling or behaving in particular ways. External or internal forces - source of pressure can come from sources completely outside the person or from within. Within the person. I better force myself to study or else... Accompanied by experiences of pressure and obligation - something outside of myself has an agenda for me. I have to live up to someone else's standards. Two types of controlled motivation: External regulation and interjected regulation - both are experiences of motivation, but the locus of causality is external
Autonomous versus Controlled Motivation Autonomous motivation -
To endorse one's behavior fully - we experience our behavior as chosen, as self determined. If we were to ask ourselves.. Do I endorse this activity? the answer would be yes. Autonomous motivation is Accompanied by experiences of choice and volition. We feel a sense of ownership over our behavior. Three types of Autonomous Motivation: a) Intrinsic motivation b) integrated regulation c) identified regulation
Can extrinsic motivation be internalized?
Yes. Through satisfaction of basic psychological needs