Incentive Theory and Motivation

Motivation is one of the foremost driving forces of human
nature. Its what puts us at the edge of every action and
activity; it is the sole driving force that keeps us to moving
forward in our journey to live and write our own story of life.
It might seem philosophical in the beginning, and yet its
motivation alone that wakes us up every day, keeps us alive
every minute we exist, prompts us to complete our daily tasks
and ultimately aim for a higher and a better of living. We have
it inside of us and everybody is possessed with it. Indeed,
several socio-political and economic issues and disasters that we
observe often, can actually be very much related to a lack of
motivation among people's lives. Motivation can thus be equated
as a synonym for 'morale'.
Ever since the beginning of time, motivation has always been
with us. Its what led our earliest ancestors to stay alive in spite
of numerous hardships that existed back then, prompted them
to 'get the hunt in time' and made sure that groups never
faded away. Motivation has been the prime factor behind every
individual we remember today! Einstein invented the theory of
relativity and everything scientists have been able to know of
the universe because he was motivated to discover things
nobody had done so before, with passion and energy. Human
civilisation is in itself a by-product of motivated spirits; the
inherent thirst to keep moving forward that has allowed
humans as a species to test the forces of time.
Motivation in our daily lives, and in our modern perspective is
asimportant as it has been for the last 10 millennia. People
seek motivation when it comes to their careers, lifestyles,
spirituality or even personal and professional problems.
Motivation 'gurus' exist all around us and modern lifestyles
have given way to all new aspects regarding one's motivation in
all aspects of life.
In today's world, as technology and scientific understanding
behind several phenomena advances to deeper depths, a new
understanding behind motivation has ringed interest among
psychologists and economists, since the overall health of the
economy depends on how motivated the population really is.
This theory can be called as the Incentive Theory of
Motivation that tries to explain motivation of people as being
of a result of outside or extrinsic factors that lead people to
achieve newer aspects in their personal and professional lives.
The incentive theory of motivation is very related and to some
extent, even borrows elements from other motivation theories
that have preceded it.