intrinsic motivation
Self-generated desire acting
Intrinsic motivation is the drive to do something for its own sake rather than for external rewards.
A child who reads because she loves stories has intrinsic motivation; one who reads for gold stars has extrinsic motivation.
The distinction matters in education and workplace psychology, where intrinsic motivation tends to produce deeper engagement and more durable results.
Control over one's fate
- agencyPower to act
- volitionCapacity for choice
- choiceAct of selecting
- independenceFreedom from external control
empowerment · self-direction · self-governance · free will · self-regulation · self-reliance · ownership · self-management
Desire to learn
- masteryComplete skill or control
- growth mindsetBelief abilities improve through effort
- self-improvementEnhancing oneself deliberately
- explorationTraveling through unknown regions
ambition · aspiration · perseverance · determination · initiative · self-actualization · purpose · striving
Intense eager enjoyment
- loveIntense fond attachment
- enjoymentState of relishing something
- interestAttention, stake, or fee
- eagernessIntense willingness to act
devotion · ardor · fervor · zeal · energy · excitement · inspiration · joy
Unbroken forward movement
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- immersionState of being submerged
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- involvementState of being engaged
participation · attentiveness · presence · captivation · rapt attention · engrossment · single-mindedness · invested
State of fulfilled desires
- meaningfulnessQuality of having purpose
- purposeReason something exists
- self-realizationAchieving personal potential
- accomplishmentSuccessful completion of aim
gratification · well-being · contentment · enrichment · flourishing · wholeness · completion · personal growth
self-determination
Control over one's fate
independence · empowerment · self-direction · self-governance · free will · self-regulation · self-reliance · ownership · self-management · sovereignty
curiosity
Desire to learn
- masteryComplete skill or control
- growth mindsetBelief abilities improve through effort
- self-improvementEnhancing oneself deliberately
exploration · ambition · aspiration · perseverance · determination · initiative · self-actualization · purpose · striving · persistence
enthusiasm
Intense eager enjoyment
eagerness · devotion · ardor · fervor · zeal · energy · excitement · inspiration · joy · delight
flow
Unbroken forward movement
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- immersionState of being submerged
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
involvement · participation · attentiveness · presence · captivation · rapt attention · engrossment · single-mindedness · invested · wholehearted
satisfaction
State of fulfilled desires
- meaningfulnessQuality of having purpose
- purposeReason something exists
- self-realizationAchieving personal potential
accomplishment · gratification · well-being · contentment · enrichment · flourishing · wholeness · completion · personal growth · actualization
- psychologypsychology, psychologist, therapist, psychiatrist, clinical psychology
- motivationdrive, inspire, encouragement, determination, ambition
- self-improvementpersonal growth, self-help books, focus, self-improvement, personal development
- work valueswork ethic, integrity, honesty, reliability, job satisfaction
- psychology termshabits, self-knowledge, stress, intuition, Sigmund Freud
- sport psychologymental toughness, flow state, self-talk, concentration, confidence
intrinsic motivationapathy
Absence of feeling
indifference · disengagement · laziness · listlessness · passivity
motivation, motivate, motivated, intrinsic, motivating, unmotivated, motivational, motivations, intrinsically