What is Motivation, or Mastery Motivation?
Motivation, particularly mastery motivation, is a fundamental concept in psychology and education that drives individuals to engage in and persist with challenging tasks. It refers to the intrinsic desire to improve one’s skills, understand new concepts, and overcome obstacles for the sake of personal growth and achievement.
Mastery motivation is characterized by:
- A focus on learning and improvement rather than external rewards
- Persistence in the face of difficulties
- Seeking out challenging tasks
- Deriving satisfaction from the process of learning
In educational settings, fostering mastery motivation can lead to better learning outcomes, increased engagement, and a lifelong love for learning. Teachers can encourage this by:
- Providing challenging but achievable tasks
- Emphasizing personal progress over competition
- Offering constructive feedback
- Creating a supportive learning environment
Understanding and nurturing mastery motivation is crucial for educators and parents in helping learners develop a growth mindset and become self-directed, lifelong learners.