From the definitions above, it can be concluded that motivation is factors such as needs, desires, and interests that activate, maintain, and direct behavior
on why one thinks, feels and behaves and the other factors that influence behavior, such as her past experience, her physical capabilities and the environmental
situation. Motivation can be determined by answering ‘why’ people behave as they do to reach their goal.
b. Approach and Avoidant Motivation
There are many theories of motivation offered by some theorists, some of them are already mentioned above. Moreover, there are many types of motivation
stated by theorists. According to Franken 3, “motivation theorists start with the assumption that, for every behavior, there is a cause”. Their goal is to identify
those causes. Higgins in Franken’s Human Motivation 3 states that psychologists distinguish between approach causes and avoidant causes. In
approach behavior, people do things because of something they want, desire, or need. This is often conceptualized in terms of a specific goal object. For example,
people will eat if they are hungry or people will study hard if they want to get an A, and there are still many examples. In avoidant behavior, people do things to
avoid something. For example, people who are afraid of snake will not come or stand near a snake in the zoo.
Watson Clark in Franken’s Human Motivation 4 says that “not all people are equally anxious, some are more anxious from birth”. As a result, they
are more likely belonging to avoidant behaviors. Even thinking of certain
activities is enough to make them feel anxious. They may avoid eating certain foods because they fear they will get sick, they may avoid traveling for fear of
injury, or they might avoid meeting new people in the hope of avoiding conflicts of opinion. In contrast, according to Zuckerman in Franken’s Human Motivation
5 states “extraverts and sensation seekers spend more time in approach behaviors”. They see the world as a source of opportunities and excitement. They
might go to new restaurants to savor different foods, they might talk to strangers in case to see how other people think, or they might take risks, such as hang
gliding or traveling the world. Franken 7 explains that “the distinction between approach and avoidant
motivation is based on the idea that feelings are an important determinant of behavior”. It indicates that one’s feeling can determine what they will do or their
behavior. Higgins in Franken’s 8 states the difference of avoidant and approach motivation. “Higgins has talked about the need to understand the role of self-
focus in helping humans to achieve goals approach motivation and to keep themselves safe and out of harms way avoidant motivation.” Franken 8.
However, some growth theories do not fully agree about whether it is best to account for growth motivation through approach or avoidant mechanisms
Franken 21. Many growth theorists suggest that discrepancy between what is out there
in the environment and what is inside the individual such as knowledge or skills creates motivation. However, discrepancies can be conceptualized
as the basis for experiencing challenge an approach state or tension an avoidant state. A growing body of data suggests that some people react to
a discrepancy as though it were a challenge approach motivation, whereas others react to a discrepancy as though it were a threat avoidant
motivation. Franken 21
While McClelland 136 says the difference between avoidant and approach motives according to the sign stimulus:
In the case of avoidance motives, the sign stimulus differs from the consummatory experience sought. Inconsistency, conflict, and pain are
sign stimuli that produce negative emotions and release acts designed to produce the consummatory experience of consistency, relief, or fear
reduction. In the case of approach motives, the sign stimulus that sets up the natural incentive sequence initially may be the consummatory
experience itself. McClelland 136
It can be concluded that approach motivation is motivation in which people do things because of something they want, desire, or need. In approach motivation,
people try to achieve their goals. While avoidant motivation is motivation in which people do things to avoid something and keep themselves safe and out of
harms way.
c. Human Motives
