Defining Intrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic motivation can be defined as the compulsion felt to do something regardless of any anticipated consequence arising from said action. Such consequences can include the receipt of pecuniary benefits as well as intangible rewards such as respect. It should also be noted that negative as well as positive action can arise from intrinsic motivations. Causes of intrinsic motivation are innate and beyond human control; however, intrinsic motivation can be affected by numerous variables including degree of autonomy and environment.

The reason for constructing this definition is that it incorporates the main elements of, but is not limited to, the narrower definition given by Amabile (1998) as: “the internal desire to do something based on interests and passions”. Intrinsic motivation stems from an internal desire, however this is not necessarily based solely on interests and passions. Emotions other than passion, along with personality and environment affect internal desires and therefore intrinsic motivation (Deci, 1972).

Any definition should include the aspect of intrinsic motivation that is: in performing an action one does so for “the interest in and enjoyment of activity for its own sake” (Ryan and Deci, 2000, a). Although the exclusion of resulting outcomes in the determining of motivation is a necessary element, this definition also is too narrow as many overlapping activities arise. Eating, sleeping and washing, for example, could be seen as extrinsically motivated activities, they are performed for the resulting benefit of health and energy. Many people, however, perform these activities daily as they enjoy them without consideration for the beneficial outcomes. It is difficult, then, to determine using this definition which activities are intrinsically motivated.

Lawler and Hall (1969) define intrinsic motivation as “the degree to which a job holder is motivated to perform well because of some subjective rewards or feelings that he expects to receive or experience as a result of performing well.” This does not fit in with other definitions of intrinsic motivation as it contains the idea that one is motivated to perform not because of the action itself or their inherent want, but instead for a resulting benefit that only arises following a good performance. Although the benefit is not necessarily tangible, the fact that the action was carried out for the purpose of obtaining the benefit and that benefit can only be gained given certain