Introduces the unit and the philosophical, theoretical and historical context of psychological understanding and investigation of motivation and emotion.

1. 1
Motivation & Emotion
Introduction to
motivation and emotion
James Neill
Centre for Applied Psychology
University of Canberra
2017
Image source

2. 2
Introduction to
motivation and
emotion
Reading:
Reeve (2015)
Ch 1
(pp. 1-25)
Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paris_-_Playing_chess_at_the_Jardins_du_Luxembourg_-_2966.jpg

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Outline
Based on Reeve (2015, Ch 1, p. 1)
 Motivation & emotion
● Definitions
● Key questions
 Motivation theory & science
 Framework
 Unifying themes
 Solving practical problems

4. 4
Motivation and emotion:
Key questions
Theory
Why do we do
what we do?
+
Why do we feel
the way we feel?
Practice
How can we change
what we do?
+
How can we change
what we feel?

5. 5
Motivation and emotion:
Etymology
Image source:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Running_Samburu_Boy.jpg
"motivation"
and
“emotion”
have a common root
in the Latin verb:
movere
(to move)

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Motivation and emotion:
Scientific process
Reality
(In all its complexity)
Applications;
Recommendations
(How to support and
enhance motivation and
emotion in applied settings)
Theory
(Created by
psychologists)
Hypo-
theses
(Derived from
theory)
Data
(To test the adequacy
of each hypothesis)
Based on Reeve (2015), Figure 1.1
Representation
Application

7. 7
Motivation:
Pink blobs
Image source:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pink_blob.svg,
CC-by-A 4.0
Pink
blob
Pink
blob
Why aren't we just pink blobs?
Why do we ever do anything at all?

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Motivation:
Energy + Direction
Motivation = processes that give
behaviour energy and direction.
 Energy (Strength):
Behaviour's strength, intensity, and
persistence.
 Direction (Purpose):
Behaviours aim to achieve particular
purposes or goals.

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Motivational theory example:
Reasons to exercise
Based on Reeve (2015), Table 1.1
Why exercise? Source of motivation
Fun, enjoyment Intrinsic motivation
Personal challenge Flow
Forced to do so External regulation
Accomplish a goal Goal
Health benefits Value
Inspired to do so Possible self
Pursuit of a standard of excellence Achievement strivings
Satisfaction from a job well done Perceived competence
An emotion kick Opponent process
Good mood Positive afffect
Alleviate guilt Introjection
Relieve stress Personal control
Hang out with friends Relatedness

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Motivation:
Perennial questions
Based on Reeve (2015, pp. 6-9)
What causes
behaviour?
“Why did she do that?”
“Why do people do what they
do?”
?
Why does
behaviour vary in
its intensity?
“Why does a person behave one
way in a particular situation at one
time yet behave in a different way
at another time?”
“What are the motivational
differences among individuals, and
how do such differences arise?”

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Motivation:
Specific questions that constitute the core
problems to be solved in motivation study
Based on Reeve (2015, pp. 6-7)
Image source:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:One_hand_handstand.jpg,
CC-by-SA 3.0
1.What starts behaviour?
2.Why is behaviour sustained over time?
3.Why is behaviour directed towards
some goals yet away from others?
4.Why does behaviour change its
direction?
5.Why does behaviour stop?

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Motivation:
Sources
Based on Reeve (2015, Figure 1.2, p. 9)
Antecedent conditions
• External events
• Social contexts
Internal motives
Needs Cognitions Emotions
Energised, goal-directed, and persistent
(motivated) action

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Expressions of motivation
Based on Reeve (2015, pp. 12-15)
Behaviour
Physiology
&
brain
activations
Engage-
ment
Self-report
Motivation cannot be directly measured;
but expressions of motivation can be measured.

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Expressions of
motivation:
Behaviour
Based on Reeve (2015, Table 1.2, p. 13)
Probability of response
Choice
Latency
Persistence
Effort
Facial expressions
Bodily gestures

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Expressions of motivation:
Engagement
Based on Reeve (2015, Figure 1.3, p. 13)
.
Extent of
engagement
Behaviour Emotion Cognition Agency
• On-task behaviour
• Effort
• Persistence
• Presence of
interest, enjoyment,
enthusiasm
• Absence of
distress, anger,
anxiety, frustration
●
Using sophisticated
learning strategies
●
Seeking conceptual
understanding rather
than surface
knowledge
●
Self-regulation, such
as planning
• Contributing
constructively into
and changing the
environment for the
better
• Asking questions
• Expressing
preferences

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Expressions of motivation:
Physiological & brain activity
Based on Reeve (2015, Table 1.3, p. 14)
Brain
Hormonal
Cardiovascular
Ocular
Electrodermal
Skeletal

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Expressions of motivation:
Self-report
Based on Reeve (2015, p. 15)
 People can typically self-report the
nature of their motivation
(e.g., via interview or questionnaire).
 But there can be a lack of
correspondence between what
people say their motivations are and
their behavioural and physiological
expressions
(unconscious motivation).

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Framework for understanding and
studying motivation
Based on Reeve (2015, Figure 1.4, p. 16)
Antecedent
conditions
●
Environmental
events
●
Social contexts
Motive
status
Energising,
directing, and
sustaining:
• Behaviour
• Enagement
• Brain activity
• Psychophysiology
• Self-report
Changes in
life outcomes:
• Performance
• Achievement
• Learning
• Adjustment
• Skill, talent
• Well-being
Needs Cognitions Emotions

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Motivation themes
Based on Reeve (2015, pp. 16-25)
Motivation
benefits
adaptation.
Motives direct
attention.
Motive strengths
vary over time and
influence the
stream of
behaviour.
Types of
motivation
exist.
Motivating
others requires
effort to be
successful.
To flourish,
motivation needs
supportive
conditions.
There is nothing
so practical as a
good theory.
Motives are
intervening
variables.
We are not
always
consciously
aware of
motives.
Motivation study
reveals what
people want.

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Motives vary over time & influence
the ongoing stream of behaviour
Based on Reeve (2009, Table 1.4, p. 15)
Motivation is a dynamic process (always changing, always
rising and falling) rather than a discrete event or static condition.
e.g., motives influencing behaviour of a student sitting at a desk
Note: The number of asterisks in column 4 represents the intensity of the aroused motive. One asterisk
denotes the lowest intensity level, while five asterisks denote the highest intensity level.

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Stream of behaviour and
changes in the strength of its
underlying motives
Based on Reeve (2015, Figure 1.6, p. 20)

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Using motivational theories
to solve practical problems
Based on Reeve (2009, p. 22)
Practical
problem
Given what I know about
human motivation & emotion
Proposed solution/
intervention, if any
a
e.g.,
• Student dropout
• Mediocre
performance
• Theories
• Empirical findings
• Practical experience
• How likely is it
that an intervention
will have positive
benefits?
• Do no harm

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Understanding
the motivational agent
Based on Reeve (2009, Ch 1)
• What is the behavioural phenomena?
• What is its opposite?
• Where does it come from?
• Is it malleable or fixed?
• What does it related to, or predict?
Identifying the motivational agent underlying the practical problem
(e.g., goals, efficacy, or helplessness)

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Theoretical understanding of
the problem to be solved
Based on Reeve (2009, Ch 1)
• What is the model? (theory)
• How does it work? (diagram?)
• What causes the behavioural
phenomena to change? Under what
conditions?
• What causes high and low levels of
the behaviour?

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Some ways to get a better overview
of motivation and emotion
 Read the 17 Reeve (2015) chapter
summaries.
 Look through other motivation and
emotion textbooks in the library.
 Check out articles in the peer reviewed
journal, “Motivation and Emotion”.
 Explore the previous (2010-2015) books
on Wikiversity.

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Summary
 Key questions:
Why do we do what we do, feel what we feel,
and how can this be changed?
 Motivation and emotion have a common
etymological and theoretical root – to move
 Motivation is a dynamic process which
combines the external environmental context
and interval motive status (needs, cognitions,
and emotions) to give energy and direction to
motivation as indicated by behaviour,
engagement, neurological and physiological
activations, and self-report.

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References
 Reeve, J. (2015). Understanding motivation
and emotion (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
 Reeve, J. (2015). Understanding motivation
and emotion (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

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