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Published on: September 27, 2020
Intrinsic motivation and positive development
1Department of Human and Community Development, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA.
Intrinsic motivation (IM) drives learning and development by enhancing engagement and cognitive strategies. Cultivating IM in youth, especially adolescents, is crucial for their personal growth and educational success.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Intrinsic motivation (IM) is a key driver of learning and positive development.
- Research demonstrates IM's association with enhanced engagement, perseverance, and deeper information processing.
- IM is linked to more effective and efficient learning outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize research on intrinsic motivation (IM).
- To examine the determinants of IM across multiple levels.
- To provide guidance for cultivating IM in youth, particularly adolescents.
Main Methods:
- Literature synthesis of decades of scientific research on intrinsic motivation.
- Analysis of factors influencing IM, from activity conditions to personal and cultural values.
- Development of guiding principles for fostering IM in youth.
Main Results:
- Intrinsic motivation enhances engagement, perseverance, metacognitive strategies, and information processing.
- IM arises from a convergence of factors including immediate conditions, personal goals, cultural values, and dispositions.
- Youth possess significant potential to develop and regulate their IM, especially during adolescence.
Conclusions:
- Intrinsic motivation is a powerful catalyst for learning and development.
- Cultivating IM requires addressing factors at multiple levels.
- Youth professionals can effectively foster IM through targeted strategies, particularly during adolescence.
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