1. Motivation and Affect
Chapter 11 : Educational Psychology
March 28, 2012

2. Two Motivational Videos
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6xLYt265ZM
montage
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obo6xCAHIG8
from the movie, Snatch

3. The Nature of Motivation
• Motivation is something that energies, directs,
and sustains behavior, it gets students
moving, points them in a particular direction,
and keeps them going.
• Increases students’ time on task
• All kids are motivated in one way or another
• Motivation builds up over time.

4. Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation
• Extrinsic – motivation resulting from factors
EXTERNAL to the individual and unrelated to the
task at hand.
• Intrinsic – motivation resulting from INTERNAL
personal characteristics or inherent in the task at
hand.
• Flow – Intense form of intrinsic motivation –
person ‘looses’ track of time when engaged in an
activity.

5. 4 Basic Human Needs
• Arousal – where it all begins
• Competence and Self Worth
– Want to feel like we can effectively deal with our
environment
– General belief that we are good and capable individuals
– Self-handicapping – behavior that undermines our own
successes (to preserve self-worth)
– Mastering new challenges is key to developing a sense of
competence and self-worth

6. 4 Basic Human Needs – con’t
• Self Determination – need for some autonomy
and control over decisions regarding one’s life
– Provide opportunities for independent work and
decision making
– Present rules and instructions in a non-controlling
manner
– Grant student choices
– Evaluate students’ work in non-judgemental ways
– Be selective when and how you use extrinsic
reinforcers (remember Premack principle?)

7. 4 Basic Human Needs – con’t
• Relatedness – basic need to feel socially
connected to others and to secure others’
love and respect.
– Let the students know they are valued and allow
them time to work in groups

8. Maslow’s Theory
• Maslow (1954) presents a hierarchy of needs
pyramid which can be divided into basic (or
deficiency) needs (e.g. physiological, safety, love,
and esteem) and growth needs (cognitive,
aesthetics and self-actualization).
• One must satisfy lower level basic needs before
progressing on to meet higher level growth
needs. Once these needs have been reasonably
satisfied, one may be able to reach the highest
level called self-actualization.

9. Maslow’s Pyramid of Needs