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Amanda Gordon

EDEP 822

Spring 2011

THEORIES OF MOTIVATION

Social Learning Theory

(J.B. Rotter, 1954)

Instinct Theory

(W. McDougall, 1908)

What are the concepts of

these motivation

perspectives?

Uses empirical law of effect

as the motivating factor,which says that people are

motivated to seek out positive

stimulation and to avoid

stimulation that they regard asbeing unpleasant.

A persons personality is adirect reflection of theirinteraction with their

environment.

Locus of control refers to

peoples beliefs or

expectancies about whether ornot they get reinforced in life.

Environment has nothing to do

with the motivation. It is allbiological. People are

internally motivated by

instincts and drive to respond

in a purposeful way to objects,events and ideas.

This purpose is aimed at goalattainment.

People are born with innate

knowledge about how tosurvive. The need to survive is

our motivation.

.

How do these concepts affect

behavior & learning?

In order to understand

behavior, a person has toaccount for both the

individual and the

environment.

Locus of control affects

learning depending uponwhether the student has an

internal locus of control

(successes or failures are due

to their own efforts) or an

external locus of control

(successes or failures are due

to luck, chance, etc.).

Biological needs and instincts

motivate us to behave acertain way.

Behavior patterns areunlearned, uniform, universal

in a species and goal-directed

Instincts provide description

of behavior rather than an

explanation. This is where the

controversy lies.

What strategies can teachers

use to promote the

motivation to learn?

Teachers can help students

through positive

reinforcement and by

encouraging the students to

Since this theory focuses on

the idea that behavior is goal-

oriented, but that people may

not fully understand what that

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learn an internal locus of

control. By doing this, thestudents will increase learning

by understanding that their

successes and/or failures are

within their control and aredue to their efforts (or lack

thereof). By helping thestudents become more aware

that their learning is in their

own hands, this could increase

motivation since learnedbehavior patterns are

associated with reinforcement.

goal is, teachers could help

students become more awareof these goals.

Human beings are naturally

curious and interested inlearning from the time they

are babies. So in terms ofhaving the motivation to learn,

I would think that this would

be innate as well.

My own motivation to

achieve a goal

When I lived in Texas, I had a

goal to live in New York Citysomeday. I had an internal

locus of control which meantthat my success of getting to

New York City was because

of my own efforts and notbecause of luck, chance or any

other outside force. It was

important for me to

understand this. Knowing thatI made it there due to my own

efforts increased mymotivation to succeed once Iarrived.

I have five animals, and for

example, the other day one ofmy dogs came running into

the house crying and in a stateof panic. I immediately put

him in the car and drove to my

emergency vet. This is notlearned behavior. I am

internally motivated to

respond in a particular

manner. My dog could havebeen in a life or death

situation, and I automaticallyknow that I need to do to keepmy dog alive. Keeping him

safe is my goal every single

day.

References

An Introduction to Social Psychology. (2011). InEncyclopedia Britannica Online. Retrieved

fromhttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/292080/An-Introduction-to-Social

Psychology

Ford, M.E. (1992). Integration of historical and contemporary theories of motivation.Motivating

Humans: Goals, Emotions, and Personal Agency Beliefs. (pp. 152-200). SagePublications.

Rotter, J.B. (1954). Basic Concepts. Social Learning and Clinical Psychology. (pp. 105-183).Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/292080/An-Introduction-to-SocialPsychologyhttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/292080/An-Introduction-to-SocialPsychologyhttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/292080/An-Introduction-to-SocialPsychologyhttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/292080/An-Introduction-to-SocialPsychologyhttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/292080/An-Introduction-to-SocialPsychology