The Role Of Desire In Motivation

"Without desire, there is nothing to work with"

So much proverbial ink has been spilled on the topic of motivation and motivating the unmotivated.

• intrinsic motivation: from within
• extrinsic motivation: from without
• compulsion: at the point of a gun, a subset of extrinsic motivation. Recall Hollywood drill sergeants 

​"Intrinsic motivation is motivation that is animated by personal enjoyment, interest, or pleasure. As Deci et al. (1999) observe, “intrinsic motivation energizes and sustains activities through the spontaneous satisfactions inherent in effective volitional action."
Author: Emily R Lai
Cited by: 83
Publish Year: 2011

This is an interesting article for all musicians and teachers. Some of the research driven theories covered include the role self-belief or " self-efficacy plays in success. Self-efficacy is the “judgments of how well one can execute courses of action required to deal with prospective situations”.

And, the role of the desire to achieve an end for it's own reasons and the desire to impress, or draw favorable attention to one's self.  As stated in the article, "mastery goals" or "performance goals". Intrinsic and extrinsic.

Regardless of the type of or nobility of the the desire, the strength of the desire leads to action or "volition".  In other words getting off one's butt and moving forward in the belief it is possible.

​David