Ability is thought of as being an internal stable factor over which a person may not think they have any control. However, one should consider that the ability to control one's own learning may become available to an individual if they actively engage in their learning. This active learning engagement has the potential to change neurological pathways, leading to changes in cognitive and skill-acquisition capacities, as well as advances in knowledge, potential, insight, and creativity(Arrowsmith-Young, 2012; Coyle, 2009; Doidge, 2010, 2015).
Henry Ford famously noted, "Whether you think you can do it or not, you are usually right." His point was that beliefs, especially about our talents, performance, and even luck, can be self-fulfilling. Irrespective of whether they are right or wrong, they will become true by influencing objective success outcomes. Ford was hardly alone. Along the same lines, decades of psychological research show that beliefs matter, often profoundly so.
Adult content has never been as accessible as it is now, thanks to the internet. Hell, online smut played a major role in the rise of the web itself in the 1990s. With that glut of porn, some have voiced concerns that some people are consuming too much of the stuff or even becoming addicted, which they claim could have consequences like regulating emotions or impaired sexual functioning.
Whether it's something personal like physical fitness, or something professional like finding a new job, we all get stuck from time to time. And once you do, the ability to pull out of that place and take productive steps forward can be incredibly hard. At the same time, once you get moving again (physically or otherwise) that same inertia can keep you going, even when there are lots of obstacles standing in your way.
Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany might not consider himself to be a master of motivation, but the former Manchester City center-back has done well with his boys at Bayern Munich when it comes to keeping them focused and ready. A good example of that was how the Bavarians came out buzzing against Wolfsburg. Kompany explained some of what he said to the team leading up to the game.
A better life means different things to different people. For one person, a better life might mean better relationships, better emotional well-being, or better physical health. For another, the same idea may instead conjure a desire for better finances or a better work-life balance. Despite these different visions, however, there is a unifying quality about a better life that most of us share: we all want one.
It's crazy, I feel like I just found a new motivation in life. I was this close to retiring when I fought Brandon Royval. But after time off with my family, with my loved ones, I found I really love this sport. I really love to throw punches with a fighter in the middle of the Octagon with thousands of people [watching].
Individuals are more reluctant to lose something they possess than to acquire something of value that they presently lack. This leads to a massive difference in how motivated they become to accomplish new objectives. In psychology, this is referred to as loss aversion. A study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General illustrates what this looks like in everyday life. Across four experiments, it became clear that the fear of loss can often be a far stronger motivator than hope for gaining something new.
Gamification is one of those shiny objects that periodically captures companies' attention - a tactic that promises to boost engagement and revenue metrics. After all, everyone else seems to be doing it, so why not your company, too? At its core, gamification means applying game design elements in non-game contexts to tap into human motivation - boosting engagement and participation over time. In marketing, that can translate into higher revenue, stronger loyalty and longer customer lifetime value.
When encouraging children to become excited about learning, it is very important to help them develop a positive academic self-concept. A person's academic self-concept is the way they identify with what type of student they are. It is how you would describe yourself as a student. A person has many different aspects to their overall self-concept and likely identifies with each aspect differently. For example, every person will identify with their athletic, artistic, musical, social, emotional, or academic self-concept in different ways.
If I were like, a sports star or an artist or something, and just really cared about doing a great job at my thing, and was up at 5 am practicing free throws or whatever, that would seem pretty normal right?
Let me start by saying I genuinely admire Andrew Huberman. His mission to popularize neuroscience to improve lives is as useful as water in the desert, and his actionable strategies have helped countless people, including me. I even use his sponsor recommendations (yes, that fancy mattress works). But expertise in ophthalmology and neuroscience doesn't automatically translate to expertise in motivation science, and that is why things get messy.
In mice, a small group of neurons responds specifically to sweet tastes. They project into a hidden appetite hub, a part of the brain that links motivation and emotion to behavior. When these neurons fire, sugar becomes not just pleasant but irresistible. Switch them off, and even sugar loses its pull. This is the first clear evidence of how taste signals acquire the motivational force that drives consumption.
Engaged learners absorb information more effectively, leading to superior learning outcomes. When learners are actively participating, asking questions, and discussing concepts, they move beyond passive consumption of information. This active involvement promotes a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Research consistently shows that when learners engage with content, they retain knowledge better, resulting in improved comprehension and long-term retention. By fostering an environment that encourages active participation, educators can enhance the overall effectiveness of eLearning courses.
This story within Novak's head reveals not just a cognitive belief but a physiological imprint. From a Polyvagal lens, his nervous system was shaped to anticipate threat, and for very good reason. His early experiences biased his nervous system toward detecting danger. Although this bias fueled his relentless drive to become what many consider the greatest of all time in men's professional tennis, it also prevents him from feeling fully satisfied with what he has accomplished.
With my research collaborators in Canada and Norway, we investigated whether and why one specific bonus system used at a videogame company generated bad behaviors. Specifically, we looked at whether bonuses could make game developers disconnect from their moral standards and behave unethically-by lying, turning a blind eye to questionable behaviors, cheating, taking the credit for someone else's performance, displacing blame, or cutting corners.
