Motivation: an Existential View
Day in and day out people interact with each other, the world around them just as others and the world interact back with them. Every movement, thought, word spoken, or choice made is based off the person’s motivations. This person was motivated by something, some one, some intentionality to drink the water, say hello, or get up in the morning. What is motivation and how does it interact with people and their relationships with the world around them?
Motivation is the experience of the meaning one creates to make a choice or action. Motivation is how we make choices to navigate our experience of the world. This is described by the relationship of the double-sided arrow that illustrates the bridge of intentionality between the self and the world.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary “motive” is defined as:
1: something (as a need or desire) that causes a person to act.
Motivation exists by way of becauses, not causes. The reason we are motivated to do something, whether it be to drive the speed limit or have lunch, is based on a because relationship. We may choose to go the speed limit because we do not want to get a speeding ticket, or have lunch because at this time is best spent feeding our self. These examples of becauses I will explore with more detail later in this paper.
Intentionality takes full form when a person chooses how and what to be motivated by. Shall I have lunch now or later? My intentionality is the meaning that lunch has to me, and that I have on the experience of eating. It is the meaning making experience of eating lunch that I choose whether or not to take part in. Another way of examining this point is to ask what is the value of the need to eat instead of going to the library to study? We want to find out which need is more motivating for us to take action. The motivation comes from the meaning or value that I put on eating, that motivates me to go to the cafeteria.
Responsibility acts as guide in our experience of the
Motivation is the experience of the meaning one creates to make a choice or action. Motivation is how we make choices to navigate our experience of the world. This is described by the relationship of the double-sided arrow that illustrates the bridge of intentionality between the self and the world.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary “motive” is defined as:
1: something (as a need or desire) that causes a person to act.
Motivation exists by way of becauses, not causes. The reason we are motivated to do something, whether it be to drive the speed limit or have lunch, is based on a because relationship. We may choose to go the speed limit because we do not want to get a speeding ticket, or have lunch because at this time is best spent feeding our self. These examples of becauses I will explore with more detail later in this paper.
Intentionality takes full form when a person chooses how and what to be motivated by. Shall I have lunch now or later? My intentionality is the meaning that lunch has to me, and that I have on the experience of eating. It is the meaning making experience of eating lunch that I choose whether or not to take part in. Another way of examining this point is to ask what is the value of the need to eat instead of going to the library to study? We want to find out which need is more motivating for us to take action. The motivation comes from the meaning or value that I put on eating, that motivates me to go to the cafeteria.
Responsibility acts as guide in our experience of the
References: Greene, Lloyd, and George Burke. "Beyond Self-Actualization." Journal of Health & Human Services Administration 30 (2007): 116-128. Academic Search Complete. Seattle. 25 Feb. 2008. Kunz, George. "Motivation." Seattle University, Seattle. Smerek, Ryan, and Marvin Peterson. "Examining Herzberg 's Theory: Improving Job Satisfaction Among Non-Academic Employees At a University." Research in Higher Education 48 (2007): 229-250. Academic Search Complete. Seattle. 24 Feb. 2008. Strickler, Jane. "What Really Motivates People?" The Journal for Quality & Participation 29 (2006): 26-28. Academic Search Complete. Seattle. 24 Feb. 2008.