For this project, I was tasked with writing a more academic article with the title of Impetus vs Motivation: Understanding the difference with example. Diving into the difference between the concepts.

Photo by Randy Tarampi on Unsplash

 

A very simple way to describe motivation is the reason behind a person doing anything. The reason is anything from getting out of bed in the morning, to the choice of food we make at work. Impetus, on the other hand, can be understood as putting the volume down on the TV because it is too loud. This article proposes to discuss and gain some insight into the key difference between impetus and motivation, and how it affects our daily lives. This will be done, firstly, by defining both of the terms. Followed by some key similarities and differences, with daily life examples for each term.

 

-    Motivation explained

-    Impetus explained

-    Key difference between motivation and impetus

-    Motivation example (Intrinsic)

-    Motivation example (Extrinsic)

-    Impetus example

-    Conclusion

-    References

 

 

Originating from the word “motive”, motivation can be associated with the needs, wants, desires or drive of a person, Juneja,P (2022) states. Often described as a complex process, it is an action that is taken in order to accomplish a goal. It elaborates on the wants or needs that move a persons behaviour towards a specific goal. These specific goals can be directly associated with Maslow's Hierarchy of needs.

 

Abraham Maslow put forward the idea that motivation is a result of an individual trying to fulfil one of their five basic needs (psychological, safety, social, esteem or self actualisation). We understand that these needs put internal pressure on us that influences our behaviour, Hartzell, S(2022). This behaviour can be described as either intrinsic or extrinsic.

 

According to Ryan,M & Deci (2000), intrinsic motivation is described as when we are participating in an activity for satisfaction, rather than for a consequence. When we are intrinsically motivated, we will pursue an activity just because we enjoy it. An example of this would be a person reading a book, because they genuinely enjoy the action of reading books, and the time they spend doing so.

 

Extrinsic motivation on the other hand, is driven completely by an external reward. With extrinsic motivation, we participate in an activity not for pure enjoyment but rather the reward. Tangible rewards would include money or losing weight. Intangible rewards include recognition and praise for completing a task. A good example of this concept would be a person working a 9 to 5 job, not because they are in love with accounting, but because they will receive a pay check at the end of the month.

 

 

While motivation is generally associated with psychology, impetus is often connected with physics and motion. It was first mentioned in the findings of Aristotle. Van Dyk, M (2019) describes impetus as the transmission of power from the mover to the object moved. In layman’s terms, impetus is described as more of a force. This force, described as an activity in response to a stimuli. Watering the seeds that you planted will give impetus for growth, is a good example.

 

 

Although motivation and impetus meanings are very similar in nature, there is a slight difference. We could differentiate the two by labelling “motivation” as an action and “impetus” as a reaction. Motivation is a concept that we need to muster up ourselves. There is an aspect of willingness in motivation.

 

This essentially means that if we are not willing to act on an issue, nothing will be done about it. For example, if I do not have the motivation to go to gym everyday, I simply will not find myself in the gym. This motivation, or lack of it would be, to be healthier. I used the word “action” to describe motivation as it is not something that comes naturally to everyone. Some people might seem to have more motivation than others, but this is just a difference in dopamine essentially.

 

Scientists have found that the source of motivation comes from a part of your brain that is highly dependent on dopamine. Little to no motivation has been associated with low dopamine levels, Rampton,J (2022).

 

We would be able to change our levels of motivation by putting small steps in action. These steps can include activities like setting attainable goals.

 

With regards to impetus, there is not a source of willingness and it is described as a force that forces you to act on an issue. Impetus is not necessarily an action or inclusive to whether you want to act on the action or not. It is merely a reaction to an action.

 

Adam knows that he has always adored being around and helping people. Adam is a student with two years left of his school career. While doing his research he found that he would be able to help people on a daily basis by becoming a doctor. Adam is then motivated to put all of his efforts into his studying so that he will be accepted into university for medicine. Once he has studied at university, he will be able to help people.

 

John has always loved the idea of living in luxury, in fancy cars and houses. John is also a student at the same school. It has always been known to him that his dad makes good money by being a doctor. John is motivated to study as hard as he can. Acceptance into medical school will mean he will become a doctor. As a doctor he will earn the money that his father earns.

In South Africa, violence and crime is on the rise. While the government was planning, the high rate of crime was the impetus for hiring another 1000 police officers in the province of Gauteng. Because of the rise in violence and crime, the reaction of the government was to try and minimise the growth by hiring more police force.

 

 

To conclude, while exploring the concept of motivation and impetus, it was found that the two concepts were more similar than different. With motivation involving our more internal thoughts and impetus being more of a reaction to a situation. Motivation is described as a conscious action and Impetus as a reaction to an action.

 

One of the insights stated that motivation could be increased, this is definitely something that we recommend researching further if there a person feels motivation is lacking in any way.

 

 

Hartzell, S., 2022. [online] Available at: <https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-needs-theory-motivating-employees-with-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs.html> [Accessed 16 May 2022].

 

Juneja, P., 2022. What is Motivation. [online] Managementstudyguide.com. Available at: <https://www.managementstudyguide.com/what_is_motivation.htm> [Accessed 16 May 2022].

 

Oudeyer, P.-Y. (2009). What is intrinsic motivation? A typology of computational approaches. [online] Frontiers in Neurobiotics. Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/neuro.12.006.2007/full [Accessed 16 May 2022].

 

Rampton, J., 2022. Science Discovers Why Some People Are Motivated to Succeed While Others Aren't. [online] Entrepreneur. Available at: <https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/306204> [Accessed 16 May 2022].

 

Van Dyck, M. and Malara, I., 2022. Renaissance Concept of Impetus. [online] Philarchive.org. Available at: <https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwj1voLPyuP3AhXhQEEAHbmECpIQFnoECCAQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fphilarchive.org%2Farchive%2FVANRCO-3&usg=AOvVaw0J4hb_ABrliUpDK1ygrDYv> [Accessed 16 May 2022].

 

White, Peter A. “The Impetus Theory in Judgments about Object Motion: A New Perspective.” Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, vol. 19, no. 6, 1 Aug. 2012, pp. 1007–1028, 10.3758/s13423-012-0302-2. Accessed 16 May 2022.