Internal motivation and self-­determination of personality

Abstract

Internal motivation is the aspiration to perform certain activities for the very process of activity, a sense of satisfaction and joy from this activity, and not to receive a reward of due to external requirements. Internally motivated behavior is for its own sake. It is aimed at the process of activity and manifests itself as an activity for the sake of activity. The source of such motivation is in the activity, and the motives of the activity are aimed at satisfying the inner psychological needs, in particular, the person’s sense of his capabilities, self-affirmation and maintaining significant social ties. The results of this are, on the one hand, increasing the effectiveness of the success of the activity,  and  on  the  other  –  increasing  competence,  self-development  and  a  sense  of  being  a  source  of  change  in  the  world around us. Many theories of internal motivation form attention to the role of the environment in this process. Physical and social parameters of the environment can support and stimulate internally motivated behavior, not being the direct factors of its occurrence. Internally motivated activity is accompanied by experiences of joy, intellectual pleasure and pleasure from  the process. Thus, the phenomenon of internal motivation includes not only the issue of stimulation factors of behavior, but also focuses on the quality of the performed activity, on what experiences accompany the person in the process of the assignment, and  what  are  the  consequences  of  this  motivation  for  the  further  development  and  self-development  of  the  individual.  Self- determination, as well as internal motivation, is such a psychological phenomenon that is associated with a person’s ability and desire  to  develop,  realizing  his  potential  on  the  basis  of  self-confidence.  Self-determination  is  not  only  the  ability  but  also  the need.