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Motivation and Success    The famous psychological experiments in the 70s of E. I. Deci (1999) challenged ideas about motivation and originated what is now called self-determination theory. The experiments indicated that “receiving an external reward for doing an activity can, under some circumstances, lead to a loss of intrinsic motivation. But Deci also noted that verbal rewards, like positive feedback, can maintain or increase intrinsic motivation” (Ryan et al., 2019). Intrinsic motivation describes self-initiated behavior that is not drawn out by external (extrinsic ) rewards. These findings tells us that the success of any individual led on by promises of money, honor, and glory may diminish internal or intrinsic motivation, and that one builder of intrinsic motivation is affirmation. In graduate school, one needs all the motivation one can get.

The upshot here is that if you came to grad school seeking a degree, a job, reputation, etc., you may not be motivated adequately

by these external rewards since your intrinsic motivation may dwindle during the two years in which you are seeking your master’s degree. What to do?

1. Share what you are doing in the degree program so your family and friends can give you some positive feedback when you say you made a good grade on a paper or project. While verbal feedback is an external reward , Deci found that it elevates intrinsic motivation.
2. If meaningful criticism from your professors and peers is delivered negatively, revise these negative statements into positive declarations in your inner thoughts. Let’s say someone says, “Your literature review is based on sources that are way too old,” then declare to yourself, “I completed a lit review that needs updating with newer material”. The declaration “fools” your brain and directs you to an action rather than asking you to linger over a failure.

Deci, E. L., Koestner, R., & Ryan, R. M. (1999). A meta-analytic review of experiments examining the effects of extrinsic rewards on intrinsic motivation. Psychological Bulletin,125(6), 627-668. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.125.6.627

Ryan, R., William S. Ryan, & Stefano I. Di Domenico. (2018). Beyond Reinforcement: Deci (1971) on the Effects of Rewards on Self-Determination and  Intrinsic Motivation in Ed. Phillip J. Corr. (2018). Motivation. Personality and Individual Differences. Revisiting the Classic Studies Series. (135-147. )