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Essay 4: Motivation, Values, and Purpose – Avishka Fernando
Avishka P. Fernando
School of Business, Liberty University
PSYC 101-C05: General Psychology
Professor Amy Conner
March 14th, 2022
Difference between Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
In order to better explain intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, we can first look at the
definitions of intrinsic and extrinsic reinforcement in our text. Intrinsic reinforcement is
“reinforcement to increase a behavior in the future that comes from an internal source”
(George, 2021). Therefore, an example for this would be if someone were to read a book
because they loved reading, their passion for reading is what reinforces that behavior in them.
On the other hand, extrinsic reinforcement is “reinforcement to increase a behavior in the
future that comes from an external source” (George, 2021). An example of this would be if
someone were to read a book with the sole purpose of gaining a reward, their longing for that
reward would be what reinforces this behavior.
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Furthermore, now that we have understood the meaning of both intrinsic and extrinsic
reinforcement, we can move on to motivation, which is not all that different. Firstly, intrinsic
motivation would be performing a task because it’s personally rewarding to you. Therefore,
using myself as an example, I play basketball because I enjoy it and find that it improves my
mood, thus, my motivation for this comes from withing and therefore can be classified as
intrinsic motivation
Extrinsic motivation on the other hand means performing a task because of outside
causes such as receiving a reward or avoiding a punishment. Moreover, if I were to use an
example for this, it would be doing homework to avoid getting time in detention; I am
motivated by an external cause (detention) to do the homework and therefore it is classified as
extrinsic motivation.
Values and Purpose (relation to motivation)
According to the venn diagram in chapter 1, your purpose is comprised of four different
components, which are the following, passion, mission, profession, and vocation. Each of these
revolve around four other criteria, which is, that which you love to do, that which the world
needs, that which you can earn a living, and that which you excel at. Therefore, finding a
balance between these four criteria leads to us finding our purpose, and therefore, act as the
motivation in us fulfilling our purpose. For example, if you are lacking the passion for whatever
you choose to do, it is likely that you find yourself unmotivated and in turn leads to you failing to
fulfill your purpose.
What Motivates Me in My Educational Pursuit
Regarding what motivates me in my educational pursuit, I believe it includes a mix of
both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. I believe that the intrinsic motivation for me in my
educational pursuit would be that I chose my major based on my passion, I have a passion to be
an entrepreneur and therefore I actually enjoy being in the classes and obtaining knowledge
about the concepts as well as making connections.
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The extrinsic motivation for my educational pursuit would have to be the reward of
receiving a good job in the future; I understand that education can play a pivotal role in helping
people receive better jobs and therefore I am motivated to do my best in classes due to that
potential extrinsic reward in the future.
Lastly, the Bible says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the
glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31, ESV). This is my ultimate motivation in my educational pursuit as
well as anything else that I choose to do, knowing that what I am doing is for the glory of God
motivates me to do it to the best of my ability.
References
al, G. E. (2021). Introduction to Psychology from a Christian Worldview. Kendall Hunt
Publishing. https://libertyonline.vitalsource.com/books/9781792472152
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by
Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
