What is Motivation?
This is the first in a series of articles I will write, in shaa Allah, pertaining to Motivation.
Motivation can be defined as the push, inspiration, encouragement and characteristic that causes us to do something and achieve goals.
Basically, why is it we think and behave like we do?
Wikipedia defines motivation as the reason or reasons for engaging in a particular behavior, especially human behavior… These reasons may include basic needs such as food or a desired object, hobbies, goal, state of being, or ideal. The motivation for a behavior may also be attributed to less-apparent reasons such as altruism or morality. According to Geen,[author of Human motivation: A psychological approach] motivation refers to the initiation, direction, intensity and persistence of human behavior.
Motivational Concepts Related to Psychology
Generally, behaviour is thought to be motivated either internally or externally.
For example, external motivation can be “a reward, tangible or intangible, (that) is presented after the occurrence of an action (i.e. behavior) with the intent to cause the behavior to occur again. This is done by associating positive meaning to the behavior. Studies show that if the person receives the reward immediately, the effect would be greater, and decreases as duration lengthens. Repetitive action-reward combination can cause the action to become habit.”(Source)
More specifically, operant conditioning is the use of consequences to modify the occurrence and form of behavior. It deals with the modification of “voluntary behavior” or operant behavior. Operant behavior “operates” on the environment and is maintained by its consequences, usually punishment or reinforcement. In life, operant conditioning is seen regularly in schools and places of employment. The use of rewards (money/praise/grades) or punishment (fired from job/bad grades) are given to a person as a consequence of their output.
Internal motivation, on the other hand is when “individuals are no longer seen as responding to and being manipulated by external stimuli. They are seen as being motivated by personal goals, competency beliefs and personal evaluations of their worth. The most important source of motivation is seen as something inside the person. Learning and growth are seen as intrinsic parts of human nature that need to be nurtured. Motivation is generated from inside while being heavily influenced from outside.” (Source)
Other factors relating to motivation is self-determination, self-esteem, personality, character, and past experiences to name a few.
The main theories of motivation include instinct, drive reduction, arousal, psychoanalytical, and humanistic.
Motivation for the Muslimah
In Islam, we are seeking Allah’s love and mercy through all of our actions in daily life. We fear His punishment and hope for rewards in this life and more importantly, in the hereafter. We are motivated perhaps both internally (beliefs of Allah and the Hereafter) and externally (mercy in this life) and show our gratitude in times of ease, and patience in times of trials.
I ask whether I should seek any god besides Allah-when he is the Lord of all things. All people will reap the harvest of their own deeds; no one will bear anotherճ burden. Ultimately all of you will return to your Lord, and he will resolve your disputes. (Qur’an, Al-An’am, Surah 6:163-164)
If you only understood the great height! It consists in purchasing the freedom of a slave. It consists in feeding, during famines, an orphaned relative, or anyone who is starving. It consists in having faith, in encouraging others, and in exercising mercy. (Qur’an, Al-Balad, Surah 90:12-17)
This is the path of your Lord, a straight path. We have detailed Our revelations for those who take heed and have prepared for them an abode of peace with their Lord. He will be their Protecting Friend as a reward for their good deeds. (Qur’an, Al-An’am, Surah 6:127-28)
Your Lord never forsakes you; nor does he ever turn away from you. The life to come holds a far richer prize than this present life; you will be delighted at what your Lord will give you. When you were an orphan, did he not enrich you? Therefore you should neither reject the orphan, nor drive away the beggar; instead you should proclaim the goodness of your Lord. (Qur’an, Ad-Duha, Surah 93:3-11)
We shall test your faith by means of fear and hunger and loss of wealth and lives and crops, but give good tidings to those who endured with courage, who in hardship say, “To Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.” (Qur’an, Al Baqara, Surah 2:155-56)
Believers, let no man among you mock another man; the man being mocked is usually superior to the man who mocks. Let no woman among you mock another woman; the woman being mocked is usually superior to the woman who mocks. Do not slander one another, nor call each other by rude names; it is wrong that someone who has embraced the faith, should be called by a rude name. Those who do not repent, are sinners. (Qur’an, Al-Hujurat, Surah 49:11)
No disaster, unless it has been preordained and recorded in the book of records, can ever befall the earth nor your own selves. Behold, all this is easy enough for Allah. Know this so that you may not despair for the good fortune you lost, nor exult unduly because of the blessings bestowed upon you. Allah does not love the arrogant and the boastful. (Qur’an, Al-Hadid, 57:22-23)
The true servants of the merciful Lord are those who do not tell lies against others, and do not lose their composure when listening to profane abuse; and who do not turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the Lord ճ revelations, when they are reminded of them. The true servants of the merciful Lord are those who say to him: Make our families happy, and make us examples to all who honour you. (Qur’an, Al-Furqan, Surah 25:72-74)
Those who are generous by day and by night, both in secret and openly, will be rewarded by God. They have nothing to fear or regret. (Qu’ran, Al-Baqara, Surah 2:264)
