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Motivation, Values, and Purpose
Dominique Vera
Liberty University
Psychology 101-B11
Dr. Kevin Ganey
September 28, 2020
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Motivation, Values, and Purpose
Every human has different motivations, values, and purposes in life. We all get motivated
in different ways. Two classifications of motivation are intrinsic and extrinsic. Our motivation is
our conscious and unconscious drives used to determine behavior. "Motives are closely tied with
emotions" (George et al., 2020, p.206). Our values and purpose can influence people's experience
with motivation. Values are our unconscious and silent or unexpressed motivations that control
one's attitude and behavior. When thinking about purpose it is ones' internal self-power or energy
that influences an increase in motivation. Purpose can be simplified into two factors, what you
give to the world and what the world gives you. Those two factors can determine whether one's
motivations are intrinsic or extrinsic. As a Christian, my motivation, values, and purpose are
determined to bring all glory to God. In the book of Proverbs chapter 3, God reassures us that
through him, we increase our chances of success. The outcome of my educational journey makes
me strive to be an overachiever; what I obtain from school that I can use in my career path to
help others in the best way possible.
The leading difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is the "what" in what
motivates you. The act of doing something pleasurable and rewarding on the inside that is a
sense of freedom is what defines intrinsic motivation. You can do what you find exciting and
enjoyable for yourself or others, where you get personal satisfaction. Extrinsic motivation is the
role of being motivated by external rewards. It is doing something to earn gratification, pleasure,
social standard, or benefits that come with doing the act. The ability to do something successfully
can bring a person into a competitive state of mind. Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation can come
into play during this time. For example, say two kids play soccer, one child is playing to win
(extrinsic), and the other child is playing because it is fun (intrinsic). The child with intrinsic
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motivation is playing with the idea of fun and is happy to participate. The child with extrinsic
motivation is preforming to get the satisfaction of winning and focusing on what others consider
him or the fear of failure. "Judgments of self-efficacy are instrumental in determining what
people do; hence, they are important, motivationally." (George et al., 2020, p.224).
A person's values and purpose are essential in motivation. The way someone values
things is what gives them a purpose. The purpose is what gives someone's life meaning. Our
values and purpose are what help us with self-identity.
It is essential to know what you value in life to determine your purpose. Values benefit
one's motivation by determining what means most to them. Purpose, as stated, is simply what
you can do for the world and what the world can do for you. Our textbook states, "It is truly a
blessing to be able to engage daily in work that feeds our soul as well as adds important value to
the world. Our lives can be improved if the work we do aligns most closely with things we are
good at and dedicated to." (George et al., 2020, p.3). Research has also confirmed that when
someone has a purpose, it benefits our health mentally and physically, with better sleep,
decreased stress and anxiety, and more. However, one's life purpose is not always within their
work. When examining one's values and purpose, it can determine if they have intrinsic and
extrinsic motivation. If a person has an intrinsic motivation, their values and purpose fill the
psychological needs with their skills. They are in the category of "what you can do for the
world." They value what they love to do.
Nonetheless, if a person has an external motivation, they are not concerned about
psychological needs. They would fall into the "what can the world do for me" category of
purpose. They value money and what they can get out of things. What is important to them is
how something can benefit them. Motivation and purpose are why something is done, or why it
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exists, value and motivation is the worth and usefulness of something. Both help us determine
how we are motivated to do the things we do.
In my case, I value my education and my grades. I want to excel in school, especially at
Liberty, because many schools, the topic of religion, is not brought up. It is sporadic to attend a
community college and get a biblical perspective. I value God's word and my purpose to bring all
glory to him. I am very determined to become a crisis counselor to help others and show them
that God is right there, even at their lowest and most challenging times. I must share God's word,
work, and all his glory. I value my education to not only because I receive a degree and build my
relationship with God through my learning, but also to continue to include biblical truth and
understanding into my career. It causes me to endeavor to do the best of my ability. I hold myself
to a high standard. I need to accomplish my full potential and strive to get excellent grades. It is
sometimes difficult because I have adult attention deficit disorder, but that is not stopping me.
Because I value what I can do to spread God's word and how I can help others, I work harder to
stay focused and motivated to achieve my goals. "A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of
the diligent makes rich." (Proverbs 10:4 ESV).
In conclusion, "motivation is used to assign responsibility for actions" (George et al.,
2020, p.206). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations are different types of motivations people have.
Therefore, because of the differences in each of the motivations, it has different values and
purposes. A person's motivation, values, and purposes will determine how they see and live their
life.
