Motivation

The ability of humans and animals to survive in a constantly changing environment is a testament to the power of biological processes. At any given instant in our lives, we are faced with an enormous number of sensory stimuli, and we can typically generate an equally large number of behaviors. How do we learn to ignore irrelevant information and suppress inappropriate behavior so that we may function in a complex environment? In this chapter we discuss motivation, the internal force that produces actions reflecting the interactions between our needs and the demands of our environment. We will first discuss what psychologists mean when they refer to motivation, and then review neural network theories that can expbin how motivation arises within biological nervous systems.Sloan Fellowship (BR-3122): Air Force Office of Scientific Research (F49620-92-J-0499, F49620-92-J-0334

Motivation and Performance

Faculty reflection on VCU Great Bike Race Book course. Course Description: This track will explore how motivation links to learning and performance

Motivation and service

In understanding the meaning of community service, service learning, and civic engagement we also understand how they are interconnected. Civic engagement is motivated by the need to improve society as a whole. Civic service extends beyond volunteerism and other areas of community service or service learning

Motivation by Ideal

I offer an account of how ideals motivate us. My account suggests that although emulating an ideal is often rational, it can lead us to do irrational things