Motivation and Emotion in a Competitive Environment - Essay Example

Motivation and Emotion 1 Running head: MOTIVATIONS PROFILE PAPER Motivation and Emotion in a Competitive Environment Abstract This paper will discuss the motivations and emotions of four individuals as they seek to attain a promotion. Each individual is assigned characteristics that are examples of differing theories. As the competitive nature of each individual is explored, the theories of emotional and behavioral consequences of the motivations attributed to each person will be discussed. Motivation and Emotion 3 Motivation and Emotion in a Competitive Environment In this hypothetical case study, four individuals will seek a promotion in their place of employment. Motivations and emotional concepts will determine behavior and attitude in seeking this position. The affect of their environment that they create for themselves within their personal psychology will predispose them to behave in certain ways during their competition. As Ella, Marcello, Masoko, and Sam compete for a place that will increase the state of their personal goals, different approaches will define their methods of competition. Ella seeks to attain a promotion at work because it will increase her ability to satisfy her basic needs. Her motivation for seeking the promotion is based on biological needs according to her interpretation of survival tactics. Ella recognizes that in order to continue to maintain her ability to maintain a healthful state of existence, she will need to acquire the sustenance that is crucial to fulfilling those needs. In other words, she cannot eat without being able to purchase the food. Marcelo wants this new position because it will help him to fulfill needs that are relevant to the psychosocial theory of motivation which is concerned with growth in his development in his life. He can find identity through this position as well as take on new responsibilities that can increase his productivity and expand the impact that he can have on the world. This position can give him a basis from which to move himself forward until the end of his life comes and he can accept a good end because he doesn’t regret the choices he makes. Masoko will work to attain this position in order to elevate himself in the Motivation and Emotion 4 interactions he must make with his world. He will attain a certain control over his environment that was previously not available to him. In working to raise his status, he takes on more responsibilities which will require a higher level of performance, however, his ultimate goal will be to gain a certain amount of control and comfort within that level of control. It is Masoko’s need to compete with his fellow workers and to succeed because of social expectations will push him to relieve the anxiety that failure to compete might otherwise cause him. All three of these concepts require a sense of competition. However, the source of the competition varies from individual motivational foundations. Ella’s needs are primal, based on a sense of selfish desire to succeed in order to survive. Her motivations are not based on the needs of the world outside of her own existence, but on the needs that are basic and instinctive. In a pure form, her motivation might be the strongest competitive edge as it might not be hampered by morals or ethics as she seeks to solely survive. Marcelo, on the other hand, is seeking to expand his own sense of self. While this has a basis of selfish behavior, it can be interpreted from the view that as he refines his identity and his ability to contribute to society, he works also for society to become a better individual within his world. Masoko’s competitive sensibility is created from external pressure. He is working towards the approval of a society that expects him to continue to seek better positions and to rise higher in status. As Ella uses her instincts to compete for this position, she might be using a somatic theory of emotion as she navigates her decision making process. In a process that could be termed as using her ‘gut’, she uses somatic markers hypothesis which has been Motivation and Emotion 5 promoted by Antonio Rosa Damasio, a professor of neuroscience at the University of California. According to his work, external stimuli create an associated physical response that is then repeated with the same stimuli. As the process of attaining this position is traveled, Ella might make her decisions based on physical emotional responses to the challenges presented to her. As well, Damasio concludes that “certain aspects of the process of emotion and feelings are indispensable for rationality. At their best, feelings point us in the proper direction, take us to the appropriate place in a decision making space” (Irvine, 2006). This theory is one of the neurobiological theories that ascribes emotional response to what can be physically measured in the brain. Marcelo and Masoko might both be using a form of cognitive theory of emotion. The emotional content of their decision making in competing for this position might come from putting thoughts, evaluations, and judgments together in order to determine their response. However, Masoko might be creating emotions from the Bard-Cannon theory which suggests that emotion stimulates behavior. As Masoko feels the pressure to perform, he will act on the feelings presented. Marcelo, on the other hand, might be working from the perceptual emotional theory as he is triggered into behavior by the events of the promotion competition and relates his self-actualization to the process and in relation to his world. One might expect Ella to approach her competitive application in what might be termed as ‘cutthroat’. She is operating under the instinctual, predatory motivation that is usually without mercy or moral imperative. Her actions will be dictated by whatever creates her strongest chance to survive. Marcelo will approach the competition with the Motivation and Emotion 6 concept that he will attain the position through the development of proof of his own growth and potential for success. As Masoko seeks to elevate his social status and attain position that is expected for him to attain, he will act as aggressively as possible while maintaining a perception from his social interactions that remains acceptable. Sam will integrate the predatory and instinctual motivation with a need to improve his own development and the goal of elevating himself socially. As he seeks to win over his competition, he will use whatever tactics he deems appropriate and aggressive, without compromising himself under the terms of integrity, morality and ethics that have been determined by his cultural and social world. Sam’s motivation comes from a place that is balanced between his physiology, his developing identity, and his social interactions. Each of these individuals will develop a scope of actions based on motivations and driven by emotions. While Sam is the most balanced, it is just as likely that Ella will outwit her competition by doing her best at all costs. The employer might appreciate Marcelo’s need to grow and see that potential as more valuable, or he might respond to the needs of Masoko and assume his fear of rejection within his community might create a loyalty and inspire hard work. The psychology of the employer would determine which of these individuals can attain their goal of promotion. Motivation and Emotion 7 References Irvine, W. B. (2006). On desire: why we want what we want. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Read More