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Sources of motivation: WACE Year 12 Psychology Unit 4

Syllabus dot point

“Sources of motivation: physiological, cognitions, emotions, social”

WACEPsychologyUnit 4: Motivation, wellbeing and health6 min read

Quick answer

Motivation is the set of processes that start, direct and sustain goal-directed behaviour. The SCSA syllabus names four sources: physiological (biological needs and bodily states such as hunger, thirst and fatigue), cognitions (thoughts, beliefs, expectations and goals), emotions (feelings such as fear, pride or enjoyment) and social (other people, relationships, norms and culture). Most behaviour is driven by several sources at once.

Jump to a section
  1. What this dot point is asking
  2. The four sources of motivation
  3. How the sources interact
  4. Exam-style questions

What this dot point is asking

This dot point opens Unit 4. You should be able to define motivation, identify each source in a scenario, and explain how the sources interact. It is a foundation for self-determination theory and Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

The four sources of motivation

Source What it is Example
Physiological Biological needs and bodily states that push us to act, often to restore balance in the body Thirst after sport motivates drinking; tiredness motivates sleep
Cognitions Thoughts, beliefs, expectations, values and goals Believing extra study will lift your ATAR motivates you to study
Emotions Feelings that energise approach or avoidance Fear of a dog motivates you to cross the road; enjoyment of music motivates practice
Social The influence of other people, groups, norms and culture Wanting approval from a coach, or fitting in with friends
One behaviour, many sources

Exam scenarios usually contain more than one source. Identify each source with the specific detail that shows it, rather than labelling the whole behaviour with a single source.

How the sources interact

  • Sources can work together: a student studies because they value the subject (cognition), enjoy it (emotion) and want their parents' approval (social).
  • Sources can conflict: a student wants to study (cognition) but is exhausted (physiological) and friends invite them out (social).
  • The balance of sources differs between people and situations, which helps explain why the same event motivates people differently.
Identifying sources in a scenario

Eating lunch at school

Kiara skipped breakfast and feels hungry by lunchtime. She knows she has a netball game after school and believes eating will give her energy. She feels anxious about the game, and her friends are all heading to the canteen.

  • Physiological: hunger after skipping breakfast.
  • Cognitions: the belief that eating will give her energy for the game.
  • Emotions: anxiety about the game, which may increase or reduce her appetite.
  • Social: her friends going to the canteen.

Marker's note: quote the part of the scenario that shows each source.

Common errors
Confusing cognitions and emotions
Cognitions are thoughts and beliefs ("I think..."); emotions are feelings ("I feel...").
Labelling every example physiological
Only bodily needs and states count as physiological sources.
Giving a definition without a source
Motivation questions usually want the source named and applied.

Exam-style questions

Questions in the style of SCSA exam questions on this dot point, each with a worked answer. They are written by ExamExplained unless tagged "Past paper"; the year shows the paper a question is modelled on.

Original4 marks
Jamal trains for a marathon. Identify and explain how each of the four sources of motivation could contribute to his training.
Show worked answer →

One mark for each source applied to Jamal.

Physiological
The pleasant physical sensations after exercise, or hunger and thirst that drive him to refuel so he can keep training, are biological states that direct behaviour.
Cognitions
His belief that he can finish a marathon, his goal of a personal best time and his expectation that training will improve his fitness all direct and sustain his effort.
Emotions
Pride after a long run, enjoyment of running, or fear of failing on race day push him to keep training.
Social
Encouragement from his running group, wanting to raise money for a charity or the approval of family and friends motivate him to continue.
Original3 marks
Define motivation and explain why it is described as having more than one source.
Show worked answer →

One mark for the definition and two marks for the explanation.

Definition. Motivation is the set of processes that start, direct and sustain goal-directed behaviour.

More than one source. Behaviour is rarely driven by one factor. Physiological needs, thoughts and beliefs (cognitions), feelings (emotions) and other people (social factors) can all push towards, or away from, the same behaviour at once, and their relative strength differs between people and situations.

Practise this

Sources & how we know this

Based on the official SCSA syllabus. Not yet individually reviewed by a person; always check SCSA and your school's materials for current rules.

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