Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a complicated process. A major factor to discuss is what motivates people to seek therapy and stay with it even when it becomes difficult and confronting? Is it possible to shift from intrinsic to extrinsic motivation? Yes, according to Ryan & Deci (2000, p. 61), there is a psychological process of internalization and integration of values and behavioral regulations that operate on a continuum that ranges from amotivation, or the unwillingness to do something to pure intrinsic motivation. Internalization increases along this continuum from amotivation to intrinsic motivation. But all theories of motivation don’t account for this shift.
Maslow’s developed the idiosyncratic hierarchical needs theory of motivation. Then Herzberg suggested that motivators need to include a needs component for productivity and satisfaction. Expectancy theory developed by Vroom formulated the concept of environment characteristics being important and that there is a strong form of individual beliefs and attitudes to consider. Then Ryan’s contribution found that goal setting is critical to motivation and mostly a cognitive process that relies on the science of cognitive psychology. Bandura’s contribution to cognition with his work on the social factors that influence decisions and subsequent behavior. Further work combined Vroom and Bandura’s theories into the importance of self-efficacy, which provide the foundation for the development of Self Determination Theory. Finally, Greenberg and Folger discovered that perceptions of trust and fairness result in what an individual would consider being justice.
Recent discoveries and inquiries in neuroscience as it pertains to cognition and motivation to be good support for the assertion that not all theories account for the change/shift in motivation. Hidi's (2016, pg. 79) brings into consideration of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation in influencing one’s behavior and decisions to show that motivation is a complicated human process involving the neurotransmitter dopamine, rewards, perceptions, emotions, experiences, and learning. Motivation cannot be explained by just one theory, but most effectively explained by multiple theories along with the subjective individualized meaning that people make about what drives them. The complicated process of motivation in psychotherapy are an important consideration that a trained and experienced clinician will address in all phases of the therapy process.