8.1 : Introduction to Motivation and Emotion

Motivation is a multifaceted process that drives behavior toward fulfilling various physiological or psychological needs. This process involves initiating, guiding, and maintaining specific actions influenced by internal and external factors. For example, when someone feels hungry while watching television, hunger is a motivator, prompting the individual to get up, walk to the kitchen, and find something to eat. In this instance, hunger initiates and sustains the behavior necessary to meet the body's physiological requirement for food.

Motivation is classified into two primary categories: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation arises from internal satisfaction or the fulfillment of personal goals. Participating in activities solely for the enjoyment or curiosity they inspire, such as reading a book for entertainment or learning, provides an intrinsic reward. In contrast, extrinsic motivation is driven by external rewards or pressures. For instance, a student studying diligently to earn a high grade is motivated by the prospect of academic success, an external reward.

While motivation relates to pursuing specific goals, emotion is a complex psychological state encompassing subjective experiences, physiological responses, and behavioral expressions. Subjective experience refers to an individual's feelings in response to a situation, such as the joy felt when receiving a job offer. Physiological responses are the body's physical reactions to emotions; for example, fear can cause an increase in heart rate, muscle tension, and sweating. Lastly, behavioral expressions are the observable manifestations of emotions, such as facial expressions or body language. Anger, for instance, may be exhibited through frowning, a raised voice, or clenched fists.