Motivation and Satisfaction

Abstract

The why and whither of human behavior is one of psychology's concerns of old: What is it that gets us moving and keeps us going? Is that cause located within the person, or is it to be found in the external environment, or are both person and situation always involved? Why do we sometimes feel ourselves driven to do something, while at other times our attention is, as it were, drawn to an event, possibly one that has not yet taken place? What is the explanation for the fact that part of our behavior-and we often only realize this after­ wards-occurs almost without particular thought, as if it were automated? Why is it that a backlog in work challenges some people to work harder to catch up, whereas it makes others feel blocked? How come one individual is always looking for risks, whereas another person prefers life to be ordered and predictable at work and at home? Is it that people are primarily motivated by long-term views and plans, much as a chief executive officer presents the company's objectives for the next year relative to the results achieved in the preced­ ing fiscal year? Or is the audience more sensitive to the commitment and trust he or she radiates in outlining the mission? Is motivation perhapsaffected more by the frequency with which the results of individual performance behavior are monitored in relation to goals set?

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