What drives us to take action, pursue goals, and keep pushing forward? Motivation is complex, arising from both internal and external factors. But some of the most powerful motivation comes from within. This innate, self-driven motivation is called intrinsic motivation.
When intrinsically motivated, people engage in activities because they find them interesting and inherently satisfying. The reward comes not from some external outcome, but rather from the activity itself. Researchers have uncovered various qualities that make tasks intrinsically motivating and explored ways to foster more self-driven behavior. Below we’ll unpack what intrinsic motivation looks like in action across life domains and why understanding it matters.