The Intricate Relationship Between Motivation and Emotion | Psychology Notes

Motivation and emotion are closely linked psychological constructs that influence human behavior. Motivation drives a person to pursue goals. Emotion arises from the process and outcome of goal pursuit. Together, they play an important role in decision-making, performance, and well-being. Motivation and Emotion is a publication featuring articles on human motivational and emotional phenomena. Motivation and Emotion encourages explanatory research, emphasizing the connection between empirical findings and underlying processes.

In this article, we will delve into the fascinating world of motivation and emotion. We will explore their psychological implications, uncovering their relevance to UPSC aspirants. It is a portion of the Psychology subject in the Mains Optional Paper.

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What is Motivation?

Motivation is an internal drive or an internal state. It activates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behaviors. It refers to the forces that originate within an individual. These forces start and direct behavior. They set in motion the arousal, direction, and persistence of goal-oriented activity. Motivation drives one to act in a certain way to fulfill needs and meet desires. Various factors, including biological, psychological, and social elements can influence motivation.

Common types of motivation include intrinsic motivation from inner desire and extrinsic motivation from external rewards.

Types of Motivation

Some of the basic types of motivation have been mentioned below:

Intrinsic motivation 

Drive to perform an activity for its own sake due to interest, enjoyment, and satisfaction. Examples include hobbies and challenges.

Extrinsic motivation 

Drive to perform an activity to meet outcomes separately from the activity itself. This might include rewards, money, and praise. Examples include grades and salaries.

Achievement motivation

Drive to accomplish difficult tasks and attain excellence. Individuals with high achievement motivation set challenging goals.

Affiliation motivation 

Drive to establish and maintain positive interpersonal relationships. Examples include socializing and seeking approval.

Power motivation 

Drive to attain social influence and control over others. Examples include seeking leadership roles and status.

Incentive Motivation

Pursuing a goal to get specific rewards or avoid punishments. This includes external incentives, such as bonuses, promotions, or penalties.

Learn more about the Types of research here!

What is Emotion in Psychology?

Emotion refers to the complex psychological state. It involves physiological arousal, feelings, moods, and behaviors. Emotion arises in response to the significance of events to an individual. It includes subjective feelings of joy, sadness, anger, etc. Emotions influence judgment, attention, memory, and social interactions. They can motivate goal-oriented behaviors. They can also trigger coping responses to adapt to changing circumstances.

Theories of Motivation and Emotion

Drives Theory

Proposes that physiological needs create tensions. This motivates goal-directed behavior to reduce tensions and satisfy needs.

Incentive Theory 

Argues that pleasant incentives motivate while unpleasant incentives demotivate. The attractiveness of incentives determines motivation levels.

Two-Factor Theory 

Proposes that intrinsic and extrinsic factors both determine motivation but in different ways.

Appraisal Theory

States that emotions arise from how individuals evaluate or appraise events and situations. The appraisal influences what emotion is experienced.

Affective Events Theory 

Argues that positive and negative workplace events influence employee emotions. This impacts their attitudes, behaviors, and motivation.

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Relationship between Motivation and Emotion

The below points describe the relationship between motivation and emotion:

• Emotions play a role in motivating behaviors. Positive emotions tend to motivate approach behaviors, while negative emotions motivate avoidance behaviors.
• Motivation influences the type of emotion one experiences. Achieving goals tend to elicit positive emotions. Failure to meet goals often results in negative emotions.
• Emotions provide information that can alter motivation. Emotions signal whether goals are being met and influence an individual's valuation of goals and choice of goals.
• Motivation and emotion interact in a complex feedback loop. They determine each other over time.
• Emotion regulation strategies can impact motivation levels and vice versa.

The Role of Motivation and Emotion in Human Behavior

Motivation and Achievement

• Motivation plays a crucial role in driving individuals to set goals. It helps persevere through challenges and achieve success.
• Emotions, such as excitement, pride, and determination, serve as catalysts for motivation.

Motivation and Learning

• Motivation influences the learning process by:
  • directing attention, 
  • promoting effort, and 
  • enhancing memory consolidation.
• Emotions, such as curiosity and interest, can positively impact motivation. They facilitate effective learning outcomes.

Read Here About Difference between Qualitative and Quantitative Research!

Emotional Motive

Emotional motive is an emotion that drives or motivates one's actions and behaviors. Emotions like anger, fear, love, and joy can become motives that propel people forward.

Read the article on the Theories of Intelligence!

Conclusion

Motivation and emotion are intertwined forces that impact human behavior and psychological well-being. Together, they shape attitudes, decisions, and actions in important ways. A comprehensive view of human behavior requires considering both motivation and emotion. Understanding the relationship between motivation and emotion can provide UPSC aspirants with valuable insights. 

We hope all your doubts regarding this topic would have been addressed now. Testbook provides study material for several competitive examinations. Ace your UPSC preparation by downloading the Testbook App now!