My class assignment a while back for my psychology 100 class was learning about the differences of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation and I thought I’d share what I wrote for my discussion post here as it relates to this blog on being both a college student and an investor.
The picture on the right is representative of extrinsic motivation. We were asked to choose images that represent both concepts.
Extrinsic motivation arises from external factors or rewards whereas intrinsic motivation is motivation based on internal feelings rather than external rewards . I chose this image because it is personal to me as an investor. I am extrinsically motivated to watch my capital grow over time by buying shares of quality businesses that pay a dividend check to my household every quarter which further secures my financial future.
An area where I am intrinsically motivated is learning, another concept that was in the class room reading. Although I like the idea of having a college degree to ensure that I have a chance at a higher salary, my decision to return to college is to learn more about the world and spaces that I wouldn’t otherwise be privy. Grades do not motivate me as much as learning and understanding new concepts.
I am in college because I want to be more well-rounded and master new concepts to the best of my ability. ( Though, admittedly, this has been hard because external motivation is often the loudest in educational settings, where conversations about grades tend to overshadow conversations of concepts, which is why I appreciate these weekly discussions.)
I find that in some areas of my life, I am either intrinsically motivated or intrinsically motivated, often it is the latter. I find that the two are not mutually exclusive from each other.
For example, I love growing my capital ( Surplus of any nominal amount of money that is left over after all bills are paid even if $5) and learning the ins and outs of a business or concepts. I get excited when I understand a new concept that was once foreign me to whether it’s through investing, my psychology 100, or even my Math 146 class ( Statistics).
Student replying
When I wrote this post I wasn’t expecting anyone to comment since we weren’t obligated to, so it was a nice suprise to see a classmate comment.
I will begin by saying that I am so glad to be in this class with valuable individuals like you and as our time in this course is nearing an end, It has been an honor to learn in your midst. And same! These weekly discussions have been so impactful to my learning .
Reading through your post has me looking at extrinsic motivation from a different angle.Meaning, I was not exposed to this type of example of extrinsic motivation my thinking just went as far as tips and yours is an excellent example.
Additionally, your perspective on intrinsic motivation is similar to mine. I enjoy learning in general and I am always motivated to top up my knowledge.With only a minor difference from your view ,to me grades are a big factor in my motivation to continue with college.
With that being said, as much as my academic journey may be intrinsic motivated, it also is extrinsic motivated. Thank you for an informative insight and have a great night!
Replying back
As always I enjoy responding to the comments on my dicussion posts – it is one of my highlights as mentioned in my original post – here is what I responded.
It has been an honor to be in this class with you and many others while learning under Professor B. I am left with so much value and understanding, not only those two, but the reason I chose psychology as my major was to make sure that what I understood from my introspection and journaling over the years was backed by studies which all has been.
It’s amazing to come to our conclusions and ideas on our own and then find they were once innovative thoughts studied under well-known psychologists.
I am glad my connection with extrinsic motivation has provided you with another angle. Investing is something I love to do. True, monetary award is the greatest foundational factor, but it comes down to ensuring that my household is secure in the best sense possible. ( Inflation has made me appreciate this all the more.)
A ‘nice’ reminder of why I am doing what I am doing, if you will. Thank you for your valuable and insightful discussions as always! I still appreciate how you helped me solidify the connection between the limbic system and the amygdala while I was sick, that was a rough week.
Have a great night as well!
Conclusion
This was such a fun class assignment and wanted to share it here as I found it personally gratifying to write as well as interact with a classmate. In my previous post I said I wanted to share tons of new content on this site now that I have a week off before the next quarter of school starts. It’s fitting that some of the content posted will be from actual school assignments that can relate to the content of this blog.
Now, I ask you, what are your extrinsic and intrinsic motivations?
References
Lumen Learning (2024). Introduction to Psychology. Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/waymaker-psychology/
The Broke College Student 
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