Why do we do things?
26 Feb 2015 – I got into a discussion with my roommate about why I crush the plastic water bottles after I am done with them. Because I don’t want to take out the garbage so often. He frowned and said that I wasn’t the only taking out the garbage. Because it takes up less space in the landfill. Again he frowned and asked why I cared, I wasn’t going to be around long enough to see or feel the effects of trash filling up the island. I came up with three or four more reasons that I can’t remember at the moment, and he finally said, “Okay, so you are just going to come up with justifications until I agree with you.” (I know I should be recycling my bottles, but that is another article.)
“Yes. Yes, I am.” But it isn’t because my reasons aren’t valid or because I don’t believe them. It is because I have more than one reason for everything I do. It is how I make choices. If there is more than one reason to do something, then it must be a good choice.
The discussion between whether someone is intrinsically or extrinsically motivated is one of a false dichotomy. Everyone is both intrinsically and extrinsically motivated depending on the situation and the objective. Trying to separate the two leads to the idea that reasoning is based all on internal needs or external rewards. Human motivations are much more complex than diametrical opposites can convey. In fact, even a spectrum may be difficult to inscribe because, when broken down into its component parts, specific reasons may be found that rate on one side or the other but they cannot be extrapolated to say that some random percentage makes the decision more intrinsic and less extrinsic.
I may help someone because I like the feeling I get from it, I want someone to be grateful to me, I want a reward of money or good publicity, or I want that person to give me something sooner or later. Each of these reasons may be subtle and some may be stronger than others. I might help the person out of habit and for no other reason than that is what I was taught to do. To say that I am entirely motivated intrinsically would be incorrect, but so to would it be false to attribute all of my motivation to do something extrinsic. People are too complex to fit into boxes and to classify their motives.
“Yes. Yes, I am.” But it isn’t because my reasons aren’t valid or because I don’t believe them. It is because I have more than one reason for everything I do. It is how I make choices. If there is more than one reason to do something, then it must be a good choice.
The discussion between whether someone is intrinsically or extrinsically motivated is one of a false dichotomy. Everyone is both intrinsically and extrinsically motivated depending on the situation and the objective. Trying to separate the two leads to the idea that reasoning is based all on internal needs or external rewards. Human motivations are much more complex than diametrical opposites can convey. In fact, even a spectrum may be difficult to inscribe because, when broken down into its component parts, specific reasons may be found that rate on one side or the other but they cannot be extrapolated to say that some random percentage makes the decision more intrinsic and less extrinsic.
I may help someone because I like the feeling I get from it, I want someone to be grateful to me, I want a reward of money or good publicity, or I want that person to give me something sooner or later. Each of these reasons may be subtle and some may be stronger than others. I might help the person out of habit and for no other reason than that is what I was taught to do. To say that I am entirely motivated intrinsically would be incorrect, but so to would it be false to attribute all of my motivation to do something extrinsic. People are too complex to fit into boxes and to classify their motives.