Work Motivation Flashcards
Define motivation
Psychological processes that direct, energize, and maintain action toward a job, task, role, or project
2 theories on motivations
- Content theories
- Process theories
Explain content theories
Early theories documenting the various innate human needs that drive behavior / becoming old
Explain process theories
further examines our cognitive processes and their interaction with the situation to explain motivated behaviors
2 theories under process theories
- Endogenous process theories
- Exogeneous cause theories
Explain endogenous process theories
Focuses on cognitions within the individual that affect work motivations
Explain exogenous cause theories
Focuses on contextual influences that can affect work motivation
Other theories under endogenous theories
- Equity theory
- Expectancy theory
- Self-determination theory
Other theories under exogenous cause theories
- Self-determination theory
- Job characteristic model
- Goal-setting theory
Difference between equality and equity
Equality:
Treating everyone the same way
Equity:
Giving everyone what they need or deserve
2 different types of equity theories
- Negative inequity
-> Receiving a smaller outcome-input ratio compared to the others
-> More significant motivator - Positive inequity
-> Receiving a greater outcome-input ratio compared to others
What key aspects do people compare?
- Input
- Output
Examples of inputs
- Skills and abilities
- Effort expended
- Creativity
- Seniority
- Personal appearances
Examples of outputs
- Compensation and benefits
- Promotions
- Awards, status symbols
- Job security
- Challenging assignments
- Decision-making
How does inequity motivate behavior?
- People modify their behaviors
-> Reduced inputs
-> Maximize outcomes - People modify their cognitions
-> Distort perceptions
-> Change comparison targets
Why is negative equity a more significant motivator than positive equity?
Over-rewarding yields very little returns from the good performer, while incurring substantial backlash from others
2 types of motivations
- Intrinsic motivation
- Extrinsic motivation
Define intrinsic motivation
A drive towards certain tasks because of personal interest, enjoyment, and other positive feelings towards the task
Define extrinsic motivation
A drive towards certain tasks to attract incentives or avoid punishment from the environment
Difference between controlled motivation and autonomous motivation
Controlled motivation:
I had to
Autonomous motivation:
I want to
What are the 4 varying degrees of extrinsic motivation (from controlled motivation to autonomous motivation)
- External regulation
- Introjected regulation
- Identified regulation
- Integrated regulation
Explain external regulation
Driven by external rewards and punishments
Explain introjected regulation
Internalized rewards and punishments
Explain identified regulation
Internalized goals, beliefs, and values from an external source
Explain integrated regulation
Work is viewed as completely coherent with one’s personal beliefs, values, identity, and sense of self
Explain Self-determination theory
The SDT views individuals as inherently self-motivated but only when they can satisfy all three psychological needs:
1. Competence
2. Autonomy
3. Relatedness
Explain the 3 psychological needs in self-determination theory
Competence:
Need to feel capable and efficacious
Autonomy:
Need to experience self-direction and personal endorsement of one’s actions
Relatedness:
Need for warm and trustworthy interpersonal connections and belongings with others
Define flow
A state of heightened focus and enjoyment in an activity, often described as being in the zone
Flow is best found in activities that are:
- Slightly harder than one can manage
- In areas that one believes they are skillful in, and
- Gives quick feedback about performance
What is the main cost of extrinsic rewards?
Salient extrinsic rewards often lead individuals to perceive that they are externally motivated, which may cause them to lose intrinsic interest in a task
How is the perception of the external event critical?
If the external event appears to pressure for a particular outcome:
Perceived as informational -> increase in intrinsic motivation
If the external event does not appear to pressure a particular outcome:
Perceived as controlling -> decrease in intrinsic motivation
Explain cognitive evaluation theory
Messages loaded with ‘should’, ‘if’ agendas and contingent rewards come across as controlling; thus do explicitly highlight positive behaviors
Extrinsic rewards are more effective when they are:
- Unexpected
- Intangible/symbolic
5 job design characteristics that increase intrinsic motivation according to Job Characteristics Model
- Skill variety
- Task Identity
- Task significance
- Autonomy
- Feedback
Definition of skill variety
Variety in skills needed for the job
Definition of task identity
Identifiable work from start to finish
Definition of task significance
Having impact on other people
Definition of autonomy
Freedom and flexibility to decide how and when to complete tasks
Definition of feedback
Direct, timely, and clear information about one’s performance
