Training Simulations, Mobile Learning, Micro Learning, Virtual Reality, and Serious Game Development, Mobile Learning Development and Elearning Development.
Welcome back
Sign in to comment to your favorite stories, participate in your community and interact with your friends
or
LOG IN WITH FACEBOOKNo account? Create one
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Subscribe to our
Newsletter
Motivation refers to the psychological processes that drive and direct behavior towards achieving goals. Several theories of motivation have been proposed by psychologists and researchers over the years. These theories attempt to explain why individuals are motivated to act in certain ways and what factors influence their behavior. Here is an overview of some prominent theories of motivation:
- Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Proposed by Abraham Maslow, this theory suggests that people are motivated by a hierarchy of needs. The needs are arranged in a pyramid, with basic physiological needs (such as food, water, and shelter) at the bottom, followed by safety, love and belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization needs at the top. According to this theory, individuals strive to fulfill lower-level needs before progressing to higher-level needs.
- Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory: Frederick Herzberg proposed this theory, also known as the Motivation-Hygiene Theory or the Dual Factor Theory. It suggests that there are two sets of factors influencing motivation and job satisfaction: hygiene factors and motivators. Hygiene factors, such as salary, job security, and work conditions, are essential for preventing dissatisfaction but do not directly lead to motivation. Motivators, such as recognition, achievement, and personal growth, contribute to job satisfaction and motivation.
- Expectancy Theory: Developed by Victor Vroom, the Expectancy Theory focuses on the cognitive processes underlying motivation. It suggests that people's motivation depends on their beliefs about the relationship between effort, performance, and outcomes. According to this theory, individuals are motivated when they believe that their efforts will result in successful performance and desirable outcomes.
- Goal-Setting Theory: Proposed by Edwin Locke, the Goal-Setting Theory emphasizes the importance of setting specific, challenging goals to enhance motivation. According to this theory, individuals are motivated when they have clear goals and receive feedback on their progress. Setting challenging goals that are specific and achievable can increase motivation and performance.
- Self-Determination Theory (SDT): Developed by Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, SDT suggests that people are motivated by their innate psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Autonomy refers to the need for self-direction and control, competence refers to the need to feel capable and effective, and relatedness refers to the need for social connections and positive relationships. When these needs are satisfied, individuals experience intrinsic motivation and engage in behavior for its own sake.
- Equity Theory: Introduced by J. Stacy Adams, the Equity Theory focuses on the concept of fairness in motivation. According to this theory, individuals are motivated when they perceive that they are being treated fairly in comparison to others. People compare their inputs (e.g
Keep Reading...Show less
Featured
Writer of the Month: Emily Templeton
Get to know Miami University alumni and top creator Emily Templeton!
29 May
3228
The talented team of response writers make our world at Odyssey go round! Using our response button feature, they carry out our mission of sparking positive, productive conversations in a polarized world.
Each month, we'll highlight a response writer on our homepage. For May, that writer is Emily Templeton, a recent graduate of Miami University. She's been writing for Odyssey since her freshman year of college! Read on to hear her story.
Want to stay creative and earn some extra cash this summer? Become a response writer! You’ll get to choose your own topics and write one response a week to one of our top trending articles. Your work will be featured on our homepage and in our weekly Overheard on Odyssey newsletter. Plus, for your first 10 articles, you’ll be compensated by HQ at $10/response. Email glorie@theodysseyonline.com to learn more.
Hi there! My name is Emily Templeton and I am a response writer for The Odyssey Online. Although I became a response writer in December of 2022, I have written for Odyssey since my freshman year at Miami University in Oxford, OH. I recently graduated from Miami with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and writing response articles has been a great creative outlet for me. I was so excited when I received an email about the response writing opportunity because I’ve always loved learning about others’ experiences and fostering dialogue in a virtual environment!
Each week I’m given three to four articles to choose from, related to different topics I’m interested in or have experience with, like studying abroad, body positivity, sustainability, traveling, and relationship building. The topics that I’m able to choose from are often things that I’m passionate about in my daily life, so writing about them allows me to express my thoughts and relate them to others. I like to read each article before writing my response to get a sense of what I can add to the conversation and examine the intent that the original author had with their idea. After I decide on what I want to write about, I usually draft my title, subtitle, and then the article itself! I find that as I write my response, the idea I have for the article changes so it’s great that Odyssey is flexible and open to creative choices. Then I save my draft to Odyssey, add any photos that I would like to include, and bam! It’s that easy.
Being able to see my responses published on Odyssey is an incredible opportunity. It allows me to witness the connections that people make with my content and be a part of a supportive and productive community of writers. Sharing my response articles on my Instagram allows me to connect with my friends and family as well as those outside of my close social network. For example, after writing a response article about the importance of supporting sexual assault survivors year-round I received a message on LinkedIn from an advocate based in Connecticut that provides technology that increases access to resources surrounding sexual harassment. They showed appreciation for my efforts in raising awareness and that interaction truly meant so much to me as I realized the importance of sharing your thoughts on an issue. My goal has always been to emphasize positivity and growth in my work so being able to see that my work is making a positive difference in different communities has been a great joy.
Being paid for my responses was a great reward for taking part in one of my favorite hobbies since the beginning of my college career. I’ve always loved learning about new things and writing about topics that I’m interested in so receiving compensation for something I’m passionate about has been a great opportunity! The flexibility and support that Odyssey offers throughout the writing process are unparalleled and I have had so much fun growing in this role throughout the past six months. I’m so grateful to have response writing as a hobby going into post-grad life and look forward to writing about a variety of topics in the future!
Keep Reading...Show less
Content Inspiration
Top 3 Response Articles of This Week!
Do you know what's trending this week?
29 May
3592
c1.staticflickr.com
Happy Memorial Day from Odyssey! We're excited to welcome in the summer season with our creator community. Each week, more writers are joining Odyssey while school's on break- and you could, too! Check out the bottom of the article to learn how.
Here are the top three response articles of last week:
When One Person and One Person and One Person Become Many by Mia Muñoz
How changing our consumption practices can help combat climate change.
This is a response to 3 Ways You Can Help the Planet, One Day at a Time.
Music Heals The Soul by Giana Scafide
“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.” — Billy Joel
This is a response to 25 Songs To Make The Perfect Playlist For Your Anxiety.
This Summer, Dress to Feel Like Yourself by Valerie Gregorio
I dress how I like.
This is a response to Dressing For Yourself and Not Others, With Confidence and Comfort.
Congratulations to all the writers! We'll continue to spotlight top response articles every week on our homepage and in our Overheard on Odyssey newsletter. Click here to subscribe!
Want a fun way to stay creative and earn money this summer? Our response writer community is welcoming new members! As a response writer, your work will be shared on Odyssey's website, newsletter, and social media platforms. Plus, you'll be compensated by HQ at $10/response for your first 10 articles.
To get started, email glorie@theodysseyonline.com. We're excited to hear from you!
Keep Reading...Show less
Cape Cod Irish
When I was a child, I used to look forward to Memorial Day Weekend from the time I returned to school after Christmas vacation. It was the yearly benchmark announcing the end of the school year and the beginning of summer vacation. It meant I was one step closer to regattas, swim meets and tennis matches.
Like so many of our nation's holidays, we've lost sight of what Memorial Day is actually about. It isn't meant to be known as the unofficial start of summer. It is meant to honor our troops and the innumerable sacrifices they've made in the name of protecting and fighting for the United States of America.
Truth be told, I would settle to a return to memorializing our troops. Israel flashes the name of each fallen soldier on television during their Memorial Day celebration. I can't remember the last time I saw anyone doing anything to honor our troops on Memorial Day.
More than memorializing, however, our country needs to take a long and hard look at the way we treat our veterans. This is an issue that has been talked about for years. Every now and then there seems to be an uptick in the outrage over how our men and women in uniform are treated both while they're actively serving and after they've been discharged. It never seems to be enough for any changes to be made to the system.
Are there public programs geared solely towards assisting our men and women in uniform? Yes, there are. Do these programs make any measurable or quantifiable difference in the lives of our veterans? Yes, they do. The qualifier is that the programs help veterans who meet arbitrarily created prerequisites. For example, in order to qualify for health benefits, you need to have an address to put down on the application. This does nothing whatsoever to help the thousands of homeless veterans in our country.
Many cite pacifism as a reason to avoid getting involved in this cause. Pacifism is a noble belief and an ideal the world as a whole should strive towards. What it is not, however, is a reason to avoid supporting our veterans. If you're a pacifist you don't have to fight in our wars—a luxury that would not be afforded to you if we still lived in the era of the draft. You should be thankful that there are enough volunteers to serve in the armed forces to make the draft unnecessary. The men and women who serve are protecting each and every one of us—regardless of whether or not you agree with every military campaign the USA becomes embroiled in. It is their choice to serve, but it is not their choice to fight no. This is a critical distinction. There are very few people in the country who have a say in where the military goes (the main person, of course, being the President of the United States). You don't have to like where the military is sent or the causes they are sent to fight for (or against) but refusing to support our men and women in uniform is not going to do change anything and you're naive if you think it will.
Mental health is another big concern for our nation's veterans. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (more widely known as PTSD) is rampant among veterans. Men and women return from war zones and are unable to connect with their friends and family members. They can't find the words to articulate what they've witnessed or what they endured overseas. The military, for their part, is still old fashioned (to put it kindly) when it comes to any kind of mental illness. They see it as a personal weakness and a defect that renders the man or woman suffering from it incapable of service. If you are diagnosed with PTSD or any other form of mental illness while still on active duty, you will most likely be discharged immediately. If you're lucky it will be an honorable discharge. More often than not the signs and symptoms of PTSD are ignored. When this happens, the result is often far more catastrophic and tragic than it would have been if it was caught early on. Sufferers of PTSD often lash out, sometimes violently, when they are subjected to one of their triggers (which can be something as inoccuous as a car backfiring because it sounds like a gunshot or an explosion). If an active duty member or a veteran lashes out violently because of PTSD they are criminally punished for their actions. This is both ineffective and morally wrong when you consider it may have been avoided if the sufferer had been provided with treatment.
This issue deserves far more attention than it can be given in one article. We live in a country where serving in the military is not mandatory. I for one am increibly grateful for this because I would be hopeless fighting a war. I recognize that in myself. That doesn't mean I don't need to concern myself with how veterans are treated, however. If anything, I am MORE invested in helping our veterans procure the services they so richly deserve because I am not obligated to join the military. The men and women who serve our country do so voluntarily. They put everything on the line for our safety: yours and mine. The least they deserve when they return from active duty is help securing a job (if they choose to leave the service), healthcare and a home. These are basic necessities that we all need to survive. Our men and women in uniform are doing a job that not everyone wants to do. Remembering their service once or twice a year is not enough. We need to actively care for them each and every day.
This Memorial Day Weekend, it is my fervent hope that you and your loved ones will take a moment to not only remember our fallen heros, but to do something to help our living veterans and active duty service men and women. Contribute to the Wounded Warrior Project or volunteer your time at the local VA hospital. However you decide to do it, celebrate the contribution these men and women have made to our country. What better way to start the summer season than by commemorating the very people who are the reason we have the last Monday in May off every year
Keep Reading...Show less
Featured
5 fun Summer Vacations that won't break your bank
Enjoy the sun, relax the wallet - here are the estimated costs
27 May
4583
Endless Ocean
We compiled the costs related to 5 enriching summer vacations for this year in the thrifty sense:
Camping in a National Park, US:
time-lapse photography of river
Photo by Hendrik Cornelissen on Unsplash
- Transportation: Round-trip gas if driving, approximately $100-$200 depending on distance and vehicle efficiency.
- Accommodation: Campsite fees, approximately $15-$30 per night. For a week, that's about $105-$210.
- Food: Groceries for cooking on a camp stove or fire, approximately $50-$100 for the week.
- Activities: National Park admission, approximately $35 for a 7-day pass.
- Total Estimated Cost: $290-$545
Backpacking trip in Europe (one week in two cities, let's say Berlin and Prague)
- Transportation: Round-trip flight to Berlin, about $600-$1000. Train from Berlin to Prague, about $20-$50.
- Accommodation: Budget hostels, approximately $20-$30 per night. For a week, that's $140-$210.
- Food: Budget meals, approximately $10-$20 per day. For a week, that's $70-$140.
- Activities: Museums, historic sites, etc. can range from free to $20 per visit. A week's worth of activities could be $50-$100.
- Total Estimated Cost: $880-$1500
Road trip along the California coast:
body of water during daytime
Photo by Luise and Nic on Unsplash
- Transportation: Round-trip gas if driving, approximately $150-$300 depending on distance and vehicle efficiency.
- Accommodation: Budget motels or campgrounds, approximately $60-$120 per night. For a week, that's about $420-$840.
- Food: Eating out and groceries, approximately $20-$40 per day. For a week, that's $140-$280.
- Activities: Beaches are free; parks, tours, and attractions may cost $10-$20 each. For a week, this could be $50-$100.
- Total Estimated Cost: $760-$1520
Exploring New York City:
Empire State building
Photo by Emiliano Bar on Unsplash
- Transportation: Round-trip flight, approximately $200-$400 depending on location and when you book.
- Accommodation: Budget hostels, approximately $50-$70 per night. For a week, that's $350-$490.
- Food: Eating out, approximately $20-$40 per day. For a week, that's $140-$280.
- Activities: Many free sites; museums, Broadway shows, tours may cost $20-$100 each. For a week, this could be $100-$200.
- Total Estimated Cost: $790-$1370
Volunteer abroad with a program like Workaway or WWOOF (e.g. in Costa Rica):
- Transportation: Round-trip flight, approximately $300-$600 depending on when you book.
- Accommodation: Often included with volunteer program, $0.
- Food: Often included with volunteer program, but budget $50-$100 for eating out.
- Activities: Depends on free time; nature activities are often low-cost or free, but budget $50-$100 for tours, etc.
- Total Estimated Cost: $400-$800
water falls in the middle of green trees
Photo by sterlinglanier Lanier on Unsplash
Keep Reading...Show less
Trending Topics
Songs About Being 17
Grey's Anatomy Quotes
Vine Quotes
4 Leaf Clover
Self Respect
Top Creators
1. Brittany Morgan,National Writer's Society
2. Radhi,SUNY Stony Brook
3. Kristen Haddox, Penn State University
4. Jennifer Kustanovich, SUNY Stony Brook
5. Clare Regelbrugge, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign