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Extrinsic Motivation

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52 Examples of Intrinsic Motivation

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Intrinsic motivation is a desire to achieve results that are entirely contained within the self. This can be contrasted with extrinsic motivation, a desire for social or material outcomes. The following are basic types of intrinsic motivation with examples of each.

Self Preservation

The desire to endure, survive and thrive in a world filled with risk and uncertainty.
Avoidance of Pain
Comfort
Conservation of Effort
Desire for Certainty
Emotional Security
Freedom From Fear
Freedom From Harm
Health
Safety
Security
Stability
Well-Being

Self Development

The will to improve the self. This can be described as a pursuit or desire in the following areas.
Ability
Character
Fitness
Knowledge
Learning
Mastery
Maturity
Performance
Personal Resilience
Self-Control
Spirituality
Talent

Experience

A hunger for meaningful experiences. Arguably, this overlaps with self-development as experiences improve our abilities and represent a type of knowledge. For example, play is critical to self-development.
Adventure
Bravery
Curiosity Drive
Discovery
Embrace of Change
Embrace of Uncertainty
Exploration
Imagination
Joy
Play
Risk Taking
Wonder

Self-Actualization

Being all that you could be. This is driven by a sense of existential angst, the fear of a meaningless life or wasted potential.
Accomplishment
Art for Art's Sake
Autonomy
Awakening
Being Productive
Being Useful
Contributing to Things Greater Than Yourself
Doing Good
Freedom
Living Up to Values
Morals
Overcoming Fears
Overcoming Limitations
Pursuit of Meaning
Reflection
Self Expression

Notes

Higher level motivations often conflict with motivations for self-preservation. For example, curiosity drive or play exposes an individual to risk. Those who have mastered the basics of self-preservation move on to build personal resilience whereby they become resistant to stress and highly capable in a range of situations.
Existential angst is a root motivation that creates the sense that there is more to life than simply surviving i.e. that a life can have meaning.
The separation of intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation doesn't always make sense as they overlap in countless ways. For example, the drive for experience almost always has a social component that is extrinsic.
Overview: Intrinsic Motivation
Type
Definition
A desire to achieve results that are entirely contained within the self.
Related Concepts

Motivation

This is the complete list of articles we have written about motivation.
Alienation
Ambition
Angst
Attitude Change
Avoidance
Bucket List
Complacency
Curiosity Drive
Determination
Effort
Employee Motivation
ERG Theory
Esprit De Corps
Expectancy Theory
Expectations
Extrinsic Motivation
Flow Theory
Incentives
Inspiration
Intrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic Reward
Locus Of Control
Mediocrity
Morale
Optimism
Peak Experiences
Procrastination
Pull
Push
Silent Goal
Skin In The Game
Status Seeking
Ubermensch
Work Motivation
More ...
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