Synonyms
Definition
Internal motivation describes the engagement in or attraction to an activity for the sake of enacting the activity, such that there is no known external incentive for said activity.
Description
Two types of internal motivation have been discussed in the literature: that which arises out of direct enjoyment for engaging in a given task, and that which comes from a sense of internalized obligation or responsibility to engage in a task [6].
In order to fully understand internal, or intrinsic, motivation it is necessary to gain a working knowledge of its conceptual opposite: external motivation. External motivation is the result of external reward or incentive. Also referred to as extrinsic motivation, this occurs when a person acts in order to obtain something, such as praise or tangible rewards [6].
Several theories have sought to clarify the determinants of internal motivation. Self-determination theory (SDT) describes...
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References
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Lennertz, L. (2011). Internal Motivation. In: Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1527
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1527
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