Motivational Comparison Chart
What is motivation? Motivation is “something that energizes, directs, and sustains behavior” (Ormrod, 2008). Children as well as adults are all motivated in different areas and subject matters. Some people might be more motivated when it comes to certain math subjects were others might be more motivated in sports.
Motivation has many affects on how children learn and behave. In a classroom setting, teachers need to encourage all students to become more motivated when it comes to learning. It is through motivation that a child will be able to “direct toward particular goals, increase effort and energy, become task persistence, enhance cognitive processing, determine the consequences for behaviors, and lead to an increase in performance” (GCU, 2009, Lecture Five).
In order for children to be motivated and succeed in school and other areas, they need to have a support and guidance from those in their environment. There are two famous theorists, Abraham Maslow and B.F. Skinner, who believe that responses from the environment play a role in how a child responds to certain situations.
Motivation Compare/Contrast Chart
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory B.F. Skinner’s Behaviorist Theory
How Motivation is Defined -Motivation is influenced by environmental factors.
-Maslow designed the Hierarchy of Needs to explain how some needs take priority over others.
-There are 5 basic needs that a person requires.
-Lower needs must be satisfied before higher needs. -Motivation is seen through Operant Conditioning.
-Operant Conditioning is “learning in which a response increases as a result of being followed by reinforcement” (Ormrod, 2008, pg 312).
-Children are going to be motivated to continue a behavior if they receive praise.
How Motivation Changes Over the Years -People travel through these levels similar to stages.
-When a student is younger he/she wants to feel safe and loved in school. (Levels 2 &3)
-As a child progresses through adolescents,...
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