The motivation that is stated in the three-word slogan of a major sports brand is as straightforward as one might assume. Motivation is inherently complex and the secret to its’ complexity lies in evolution.
Evolutionary psychology suggests that human beings are wired to prioritize immediate rewards over long-term goals, which can make it difficult to motivate ourselves to pursue long-term goals such as diet and exercise. This is because our ancestors lived in an environment where survival was the primary concern, and short-term rewards such as finding food or avoiding danger were essential for survival. Therefore, the human brain evolved to prioritize immediate rewards that provided immediate benefits and helped to ensure survival.
In modern society, however, many of the immediate rewards that we are exposed to are not necessarily beneficial for our long-term health and well-being. For example, we may be tempted by unhealthy foods that provide immediate pleasure but are not good for us in the long run. Whilst previously binging on easy-energy food that was scarce and filling up on it was a question of life and death, today those same evolutionary mechanisms trick us into bingeing and falling short of following our diet.
Similarly, we may be inclined to avoid physical activity because it requires effort and can be uncomfortable, even though it is essential for our long-term health. The evolutionary principle of storing energy in case a big cat is deciding to make you into cat poop means that we will resist spending that energy unless it is necessary.
In addition, our modern environment is often characterized by abundance and convenience, which can make it more difficult to motivate ourselves to pursue long-term goals. When everything is easily accessible, it can be hard to resist immediate rewards and make choices that require effort and sacrifice.
To overcome these evolutionary barriers to motivation, it is important to recognize that the long-term benefits of healthy habits such as diet and exercise far outweigh the immediate rewards of unhealthy habits. That is incredibly difficult, there are many reasons but biology is the key, the mechanisms that ensured our survival before giving us a window into what could motivate us today.
By reframing our mindset and focusing on the positive long-term outcomes of our actions, we can motivate ourselves to make healthier choices and build healthy habits that will last a lifetime. However, that is incredibly personalized, and everyone is different, personality and temperament, incentives should reflect that.
Insight into motivation
There are several studies on motivation that can provide insights into the deeper subconscious and help individuals understand what motivates them. Here are a few examples:
- Self-Determination Theory (SDT): SDT is a theory of motivation that proposes that people are motivated by three basic needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Autonomy refers to the need to feel in control of one’s own life and choices. Competence refers to the need to feel capable and effective in one’s actions. Relatedness refers to the need to feel connected to and supported by others. By understanding which of these needs is most important to them, individuals can tailor their goals and actions to align with their values and increase their motivation.
- Goal-Setting Theory: Goal-setting theory proposes that individuals are more motivated when they have specific, challenging goals that are aligned with their values and interests. By setting clear and meaningful goals, individuals can increase their motivation and focus their efforts towards achieving their desired outcomes.
- Cognitive Evaluation Theory: Cognitive evaluation theory proposes that individuals are more motivated when they feel that their actions are self-determined and that they have a sense of control over their environment. By giving individuals autonomy and control over their goals and actions, they are more likely to be motivated and engaged in their pursuits.
- Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a theory that proposes that individuals have a hierarchy of needs, starting with basic physiological and safety needs and progressing towards higher-level needs such as self-actualization and personal growth. By understanding where they are on this hierarchy, individuals can identify which needs are most important to them and tailor their goals and actions accordingly.
By exploring these theories and considering their own needs and motivations, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of what motivates them and what they need to do to achieve their goals.
How mice are motivated
Mice are not exactly our closest relatives but they are mammals and the mechanisms that they exhibit in terms of goal-setting and achieving are an insight into our own motivation.
Let’s have a look at some top clinical psychologists and how they try to explain motivation using mice, and reward/danger.
Jordan Peterson, who has a set of lectures available online and books available for sale has referenced a study conducted by Curt Richter in his book “12 Rules for Life.”
The study involved rats instead of mice, but the basic premise is the same. In the study, rats were placed in a container with a small platform in the middle that they could climb onto to escape from the water below. The rats were divided into three groups: a control group, a group that was physically prevented from escaping onto the platform, and a group that was allowed to escape onto the platform.
The study found that the control group and the group that was physically prevented from escaping showed signs of despair and gave up after a short period of time. However, the group that was allowed to escape onto the platform continued to try to escape for a much longer period of time. Richter also found that if he introduced a cat smell into the container, the rats that were allowed to escape onto the platform ran faster and were more motivated to escape.
The study was intended to demonstrate the concept of learned helplessness, which occurs when individuals or animals become passive and give up in the face of adversity. The rats in the study that were allowed to escape learned that their actions had consequences and that they could control their environment, while the other rats became helpless and gave up.
Peterson and other clinical psychologists use this study to illustrate the importance of taking responsibility for one’s life and making active choices to improve one’s circumstances, rather than becoming passive and helpless in the face of adversity.
Unlocking motivation
The results of the study showed that the rats who were exposed to the predator scent were more motivated to escape and ran faster to reach the platform than the rats who were not exposed to the scent. This suggests that the presence of a threat can serve as a powerful motivator and increase an individual’s drive to reach a desired goal.
For humans, the same could apply, but for the cat, there ought to be something to run away from. In this case, a poor figure or health problems, are very real and very likely for people to experience eventually.
Similarly, the presence of a reward can also serve as a powerful motivator to achieve a desired goal. In the case of the study, the reward was the cheese that the rats were trying to reach. The combination of the reward (the cheese) and the threat (the predator scent) may have increased the rats’ motivation to escape and reach their goal even further.