Have you ever made a decision that didn’t make sense on paper, but it still felt right? Or avoided something you knew might be good for you? These moments reflect the powerful (and often invisible) influence of our motivations and emotions. To explore these topics, let’s look at the psychology of what motivates people, how emotion shapes our choices, and how we react to rewards, punishments, and discomfort.
Motivation is what moves us to act. It’s the force behind everything from taking a lunch break to changing careers. Psychologists classify motivation into two groups: primary and secondary.
Primary motivators are biological. They are rooted in survival. Examples include hunger, thirst, sleep, and avoiding pain. These motivators are hardwired in our brains. On the other hand, secondary motivators are more complex, involving psychological and social factors. Your life experience, education, and cultural influences determine your secondary motivators. The drive for achievement, money, social belonging, approval, and independence are common secondary motivators. While primary motivators keep us alive, secondary motivators shape our quality of life, relationships, and goals.
Fear, for example, can trigger a fight-or-flight response. If we are afraid, we may decide to avoid risk even if the logical choice is to push through. Alternatively, joy or excitement can lead to impulsiveness. When we’re happy, we’re much more likely to make an expensive purchase or say yes to something new. Similarly, guilt or shame can stop us from doing something again, while pride can motivate us to repeat a behavior.
Essentially, no decision happens in a vacuum. Our emotional state and past experiences color how we interpret and rank our options.
Other times, we act to prevent discomfort. We might avoid conflict, skip a task that causes anxiety, or shy away from risk out of fear of failure. Psychology suggests that avoidance is a powerful but subtle motivator. In many cases, we may not realize when we’re trying to dodge emotional pain or uncertainty.
Psychological theories like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Self-Determination Theory suggest that people are motivated by a combination of survival needs, social belonging, personal growth, and autonomy. Still, how exactly that plays out varies wildly from person to person.
The Basics of Human Behavior
Motivation is what moves us to act. It’s the force behind everything from taking a lunch break to changing careers. Psychologists classify motivation into two groups: primary and secondary.Primary motivators are biological. They are rooted in survival. Examples include hunger, thirst, sleep, and avoiding pain. These motivators are hardwired in our brains. On the other hand, secondary motivators are more complex, involving psychological and social factors. Your life experience, education, and cultural influences determine your secondary motivators. The drive for achievement, money, social belonging, approval, and independence are common secondary motivators. While primary motivators keep us alive, secondary motivators shape our quality of life, relationships, and goals.
How Emotions Inform Our Choices
Emotions play a huge part in decision-making, whether we know it or not. When we feel anxious, excited, angry, or hopeful, our brains release chemicals that affect our attention, memory, and ability to weigh options.Fear, for example, can trigger a fight-or-flight response. If we are afraid, we may decide to avoid risk even if the logical choice is to push through. Alternatively, joy or excitement can lead to impulsiveness. When we’re happy, we’re much more likely to make an expensive purchase or say yes to something new. Similarly, guilt or shame can stop us from doing something again, while pride can motivate us to repeat a behavior.
Essentially, no decision happens in a vacuum. Our emotional state and past experiences color how we interpret and rank our options.
Reward, Punishment, and Avoidance as Motivation
Rewards and punishments, which psychologists have studied for over a century, influence us greatly. Rewards offer positive reinforcement for our actions. Put simply, when a behavior has a positive outcome (like praise, money, or success), we’ll probably want to do it again. Punishments, of course, have negative consequences. When a behavior results in something unpleasant like embarrassment or loss, we’re less likely to repeat it.Other times, we act to prevent discomfort. We might avoid conflict, skip a task that causes anxiety, or shy away from risk out of fear of failure. Psychology suggests that avoidance is a powerful but subtle motivator. In many cases, we may not realize when we’re trying to dodge emotional pain or uncertainty.
The Logic of Our Actions
Our choices don’t always seem rational because motivations and emotions aren’t always rational. For instance, a person might stay in a job they dislike because it feels safe. The urge to avoid uncertainty overrides the desire for change. You might procrastinate on a goal, even though you deeply want it, if the process of getting it feels overwhelming. You hesitate because you don’t want to face the discomfort that success requires.Psychological theories like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Self-Determination Theory suggest that people are motivated by a combination of survival needs, social belonging, personal growth, and autonomy. Still, how exactly that plays out varies wildly from person to person.
Uncovering Your Motivators
Understanding your motivations and emotions can help you make more conscious, satisfying choices. The next time you have to make a significant decision, try asking yourself
- Am I doing this because I want something or to avoid something?
- What emotions are influencing me right now?
- What rewards or consequences am I imagining?
Human motivation is a rich and fascinating subject, and this blog barely scratches the surface. However, even a basic awareness of these concepts can help you better understand yourself and others. The more we learn about our inner processes, the more intentional and empowered our actions can be.
Curious to Learn More?
If you want to know more about what makes people tick, you might enjoy studying psychology. Our Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program can provide a broad foundation in general psychology and core psychological concepts. Our graduates are prepared to seek entry-level positions in the psychology field or continue with a graduate degree in the behavioral sciences. Request information to talk with our Admissions team today!
