Extrinsic Motivation

Introduction There are two types of motivation: extrinsic and intrinsic. An individual is extrinsically motivated when they are motived by the environment or consequences. Such motivation can come in the form of money, food, attention, privileges, etc. Intrinsically motivated individuals are motivated by their own interests and capacities (Reeve, 2009). One would say that they do an activity because it interests them. Intrinsic motivation comes from certain psychology needs that every person has within them. This paper will discuss the three types of psychological needs which are autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Those needs will then be tied into intrinsic motivation and how that affects the life of a Christian.
Psychological Needs Everyone has basic needs inside themselves that have to be fulfilled in order to live a self-fulfilled or
Church attendance and involvement make up the extrinsic motivators for life as a Christian. Unfortunately, being extrinsically motivated can be seen as a form of idolatry (Hoge, 1972). Christians are mostly intrinsically motivated daily. Choosing to even follow Christ is brought about by intrinsic motivation. A person has complete autonomy in that decision, they experience competence, and relatedness within a close, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A majority of Christians have a strong since of autonomy. Depending on their specific denomination or doctrinal beliefs, they believe that they have been set free from their past sin. That is explicitly stated multiple times in the Judeo-Christian Bible. An example would be Romans 6:8-14:
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to