This document discusses definitions of motivation from various scholars and researchers. P.T. Young defined motivation as the process of arousing action, sustaining activity, and regulating patterns of behavior. Maslow viewed motivation as constant, fluctuating, and complex. Definitions show differences in emphasis on aspects like drive, arousal, and consequences influencing future behavior. Specific motivational properties discussed include energizing responses, influencing behavioral vigor, directing behavior, reinforcing and weakening behavior through consequences, and selectivity.

1. Motivation: Conceptual IssuesMotivation: Conceptual Issues
(Response Dimension)(Response Dimension)
Dheeraj KumarDheeraj Kumar
MA-lll SemsterMA-lll Semster

2. What definitions of motivation say?What definitions of motivation say?
 P. T. Young defines the study of motivation broadlyP. T. Young defines the study of motivation broadly
as a search foras a search for determinantsdeterminants (all determinants)(all determinants) ofof
human and animalhuman and animal activity.activity.
 The two most important aspects of determination ofThe two most important aspects of determination of
the complex processes are thethe complex processes are the energeticenergetic aspect andaspect and
regulation and directionregulation and direction..
 P.T. Young (1961):P.T. Young (1961): Motivation is the process ofMotivation is the process of
arousing action, sustaining the activity in progress,arousing action, sustaining the activity in progress,
and regulating the pattern of activity.and regulating the pattern of activity. 2

3. What definitions say…What definitions say…
 Maslow (1954)Maslow (1954) writes: “Sound motivational theorywrites: “Sound motivational theory
should…assume that motivation is constant, nevershould…assume that motivation is constant, never
ending, fluctuating, and complex, and that it is anending, fluctuating, and complex, and that it is an
almost universal characteristic of practically everyalmost universal characteristic of practically every
organismic state of affairs” .organismic state of affairs” .
 N.R.F. Maier (1949)N.R.F. Maier (1949) used the term motivation toused the term motivation to
“characterize the“characterize the processprocess by which the expression ofby which the expression of
behaviour is determinedbehaviour is determined or its future expression isor its future expression is
influenced by consequences to which such behaviourinfluenced by consequences to which such behaviour
leads” .leads” . 3

4. What definitions say…What definitions say…
 Brown (1961)Brown (1961) considers a specific variableconsiders a specific variable
motivational: “motivational: “(i)(i) if it tends to facilitate or energizeif it tends to facilitate or energize
several different responses,several different responses, (ii)(ii) if its termination orif its termination or
removal following a new response leads to theremoval following a new response leads to the
learning of that response,learning of that response, (iii)(iii) if sudden increases inif sudden increases in
the strength of the variable leads to the abandonmentthe strength of the variable leads to the abandonment
of responses, andof responses, and (iv)(iv) if its effects on behaviourif its effects on behaviour
cannot be attributed to other processes such ascannot be attributed to other processes such as
learning, sensation, innate capacities, and sets”learning, sensation, innate capacities, and sets” ..
 These definitions showThese definitions show differences in emphasisdifferences in emphasis..
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5. Specific Motivational Properties…Specific Motivational Properties…
 Energization or facilitation of a variety ofEnergization or facilitation of a variety of
responses.responses.
 Behavioural vigour and efficiency.Behavioural vigour and efficiency.
 The direction of behaviour.The direction of behaviour.
 Reinforcement and strengthening of behaviour.Reinforcement and strengthening of behaviour.
 Weakening of behaviour.Weakening of behaviour.
 Selectivity of behaviour.Selectivity of behaviour.
 Spirituality of behaviour.Spirituality of behaviour.
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6. Specific Motivational Properties…Specific Motivational Properties…
 Energization or facilitation of a variety ofEnergization or facilitation of a variety of
responses.responses.
– Notions of general drive or arousal states which interact withNotions of general drive or arousal states which interact with
innate or habitual response tendencies to produce behaviourinnate or habitual response tendencies to produce behaviour
have been advanced. by Hull (1943), Brown (1953, 1961),have been advanced. by Hull (1943), Brown (1953, 1961),
Spence (1956), and Farber (1954).Spence (1956), and Farber (1954).
– The motivational processes as suchThe motivational processes as such do not control or guidedo not control or guide
specific forms of behaviour but influence behaviour byspecific forms of behaviour but influence behaviour by
energizingenergizing innate or associative tendencies.innate or associative tendencies.
– The specificity, direction, appropriateness, persistence, goal-The specificity, direction, appropriateness, persistence, goal-
directedness, or apparent purposiveness of behaviour aredirectedness, or apparent purposiveness of behaviour are
attributed toattributed to non-motivationalnon-motivational factors likefactors like habithabit, albeit that, albeit that
some of the stimuli which control such habits may have asome of the stimuli which control such habits may have a
remote motivational origin.remote motivational origin. 6

7. Specific Motivational Properties…Specific Motivational Properties…
 Behavioural Vigour or Efficiency.Behavioural Vigour or Efficiency.
– Weak stimuli may sometimes be the occasion forWeak stimuli may sometimes be the occasion for
vigorous responses, whereas sometimes weakvigorous responses, whereas sometimes weak
responses may occur in the presence of strongresponses may occur in the presence of strong
stimulation.stimulation.
– Or , despite unvarying stimulation, responses mayOr , despite unvarying stimulation, responses may
vary in vigour, or conversely, response vigour mayvary in vigour, or conversely, response vigour may
remain constant despite varying stimulation.remain constant despite varying stimulation.
– The energy expended in behaviour, as revealed inThe energy expended in behaviour, as revealed in
its vigour is often said to indicate the need forits vigour is often said to indicate the need for
motivation concepts, especially when energymotivation concepts, especially when energy
variations do not accord with the levels ofvariations do not accord with the levels of
environmental stimulation.environmental stimulation. 7

8. Specific Motivational Properties…Specific Motivational Properties…
– Activation theorists, such as Duffy, Malmo,Activation theorists, such as Duffy, Malmo,
Lindsley, Schlosberg, and Hebb, tend toLindsley, Schlosberg, and Hebb, tend to
concentrate on theconcentrate on the efficiencyefficiency oror adequacyadequacy withwith
which behavioural events occur as evidence of anwhich behavioural events occur as evidence of an
underlying arousal, that is, motivated state.underlying arousal, that is, motivated state.
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9. Specific Motivational Properties…Specific Motivational Properties…
 The Direction of Behaviour.The Direction of Behaviour.
– Behaviour is often described as guided, directed, goalBehaviour is often described as guided, directed, goal
oriented, persistent, or purposive.oriented, persistent, or purposive.
– Such characterization may describe its occurrence in a shortSuch characterization may describe its occurrence in a short
sequence or over extended periods of time, or may describesequence or over extended periods of time, or may describe
facts of choice, preference, or decision.facts of choice, preference, or decision.
– This selective, directed character of behaviour is the criticalThis selective, directed character of behaviour is the critical
property of behaviour which leads to postulation of aproperty of behaviour which leads to postulation of a
motivational process.motivational process.
– Muenzinger (1942) saw as the proper unit for behaviouralMuenzinger (1942) saw as the proper unit for behavioural
investigation ainvestigation a sequence of specific actssequence of specific acts initiated andinitiated and
directed by a motivating state and ending when thedirected by a motivating state and ending when the
motivating state was ended.motivating state was ended.
– McGeoch (1942) also suggested the completion of specificMcGeoch (1942) also suggested the completion of specific
response sequence as one evidence that a motivating processresponse sequence as one evidence that a motivating process
has ended.has ended.
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10. Specific Motivational Properties…Specific Motivational Properties…
 Reinforcement.Reinforcement.
– A response sequence is often terminated byA response sequence is often terminated by
commerce with a goal object. Such an encounter,commerce with a goal object. Such an encounter,
with or without the actual consumption of the goalwith or without the actual consumption of the goal
object, frequently strengthens the behaviour whichobject, frequently strengthens the behaviour which
has led up to it.has led up to it.
– When such strengthening occurs, it is calledWhen such strengthening occurs, it is called
reinforcement.reinforcement.
– Occurrence of reinforcement permits the inferenceOccurrence of reinforcement permits the inference
that a motivational variable must have been activethat a motivational variable must have been active
in the behaviour sequence.in the behaviour sequence.
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11. Specific Motivational Properties…Specific Motivational Properties…
 Weakening of Behaviour.Weakening of Behaviour.
– Brown (1961) has suggested that the weakeningBrown (1961) has suggested that the weakening
or cessation of behaviour, when aversiveor cessation of behaviour, when aversive
stimulation (punishment) is a consequence of it,stimulation (punishment) is a consequence of it,
may qualify a response sequence is oftenmay qualify a response sequence is often
terminated by commerce with a goal object.terminated by commerce with a goal object.
Such an encounter, with or without the actsSuch an encounter, with or without the acts
evidence for asserting that the aversiveevidence for asserting that the aversive
stimulation has motivational status.stimulation has motivational status.
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12. Specific Motivational Properties…Specific Motivational Properties…
 Selectivity of Behaviour.Selectivity of Behaviour.
 Spiritual Nature of BehaviorSpiritual Nature of Behavior
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