Introduction:
An emotion is a mental and physiological feeling state that directs our
attention and guides our behavior. Whether it is the thrill of a roller-coaster
ride that elicits an unexpected scream, the flush of embarrassment that
follows a public mistake, or the horror of a potential plane crash that creates
an exceptionally brilliant response in a pilot, emotions move our actions.
Emotions normally serve an adaptive role: We care for infants because of the
love we feel for them, we avoid making a left turn onto a crowded highway
because we fear that a speeding truck may hit us, and we are particularly
nice to Mandy because we are feeling guilty that we didn’t go to her party.
But emotions may also be destructive, such as when a frustrating experience
leads us to lash out at others who do not deserve it.
Motivations are closely related to emotions. A motivation is a driving
force that initiates and directs behavior. Some motivations are biological,
such as the motivation for food, water, and sex. But there are a variety of
other personal and social motivations that can influence behavior, including
the motivations for social approval and acceptance, the motivation to
achieve, and the motivation to take, or to avoid taking, risks (Morsella,
Bargh, & Gollwitzer, 2009). In each case we follow our motivations because
they are rewarding. As predicted by basic theories of operant learning,
motivations lead us to engage in particular behaviors because doing so
makes us feel good.
Motivations are often considered in psychology in terms of drives, which are
internal states that are activated when the physiological characteristics of
the body are out of balance, and goals, which are desired end states that we
strive to attain. Motivation can thus be conceptualized as a series of
behavioral responses that lead us to attempt to reduce drives and to attain
goals by comparing our current state with a desired end state (Lawrence,
Carver, & Scheier, 2002). Like a thermostat on an air conditioner, the body
tries to maintain homeostasis, the natural state of the body’s systems, with
goals, drives, and arousal in balance. When a drive or goal is aroused—for
instance, when we are hungry—the thermostat turns on and we start to
behave in a way that attempts to reduce the drive or meet the goal (in this
case to seek food). As the body works toward the desired end state, the
thermostat continues to check whether or not the end state has been
reached. Eventually, the need or goal is satisfied (we eat), and the relevant
behaviors are turned off. The body’s thermostat continues to check for
homeostasis and is always ready to react to future needs.
In addition to more basic motivations such as hunger, a variety of other
personal and social motivations can also be conceptualized in terms of drives
or goals. When the goal of studying for an exam is hindered because we take
a day off from our schoolwork, we may work harder on our studying on the
next day to move us toward our goal. When we are dieting, we may be more
likely to have a big binge on a day when the scale says that we have met our
prior day’s goals. And when we are lonely, the motivation to be around other
people is aroused and we try to socialize. In many, if not most cases, our
emotions and motivations operate out of our conscious awareness to guide
our behavior (Freud, 1922; Hassin, Bargh, & Zimerman, 2009; Williams,
Bargh, Nocera, & Gray, 2009).
Emotions are important in shaping someone's motivation. They can both
increase and decrease motivation in various ways. Positive emotions, such as
joy and excitement, can boost motivation by instilling passion and a drive to
achieve goals. Negative emotions, on the other hand, such as dread or anxiety,
might influence motivation by encouraging people to take action to alleviate
those sensations.
Emotions can influence motivation in numerous ways:
Goal Setting: Emotions can assist people in setting and prioritizing objectives.
For example, the desire to feel happiness or avoid disappointment can motivate
people to attain specific goals.
Reward and Punishment: Emotions can either reinforce or prevent specific
behavior's based on the anticipation of rewards or the avoidance of unpleasant
consequences. This can have an impact on motivation to pursue or avoid
specific actions.
Persistence: Emotions can influence how much effort and tenacity a person
puts into a work. For example, a strong interest in a particular subject might
increase drive to continue learning and mastering it.
Decision-Making: Emotions can influence decision-making, leading people to
choose actions that reflect their current emotional state. This, in turn, can affect
their motivation to follow through on those decisions.
Resilience: Emotions play a part in resilience as well. Positive emotions can
improve an individual's ability to recover from setbacks and maintain drive in
the face of adversity.
Example:
Motivation is a very important part of doing any work. Motivation is useful in
many ways in my personal life. Most of all I have to be motivated before
starting my project. Because every project makes us very nervous. Self
motivation plays a very important role to overcome this nervousness. Here is
how I motivate myself:
First of all I don't know my own project very well. Then the C project is not
divided into different parts. Do what needs to be done first and what needs
to be done later. I choose and complete small tasks first before starting
work. In this way, I slowly continue to do all the work serially. We do not
prepare a draft of the cost of our project at work so that we can manage it on
time. Finally, after finishing the work, I can bring a beautiful project in front
of you sirs.
Conclusion:
In short, emotions are a major driving reason behind motivation. They can either
fuel or derail a person's devotion to their goals, making it critical to identify and
regulate emotions in order to enhance motivation for personal and professional
success.
