Final answer:
Money serves as a significant motivator, particularly in terms of economic necessity and attainment of happiness. It is often prioritized because of its utility in acquiring goods and services rather than as an end in itself. Various incentives beyond money, such as personal values and intrinsic desires, also influence human behavior and decision-making.
Step-by-step explanation:
Is money a main motivator? This is a multifaceted question that touches on human behavior, values, and economic necessity. Psychologist David Myers and social science research suggest that many students attend college with the goal of financial prosperity, implying that money is indeed a significant motivator for many.
However, an instructor's anecdotal evidence points out that while money can be a powerful incentive, it is not the only one. Intrinsically motivated actions, such as a student's desire for beauty, love, discovery, conquest, and freedom, also play crucial roles in decision-making. Accordingly, incentives can shift choices, thus, the motivating power of money is variable.
American writer Ambrose Bierce's observation that money is most useful when exchanged for goods and services emphasizes that money itself is not an ultimate end. People prioritize money because it provides the agency to obtain necessities and luxuries, manifesting the convenience of transactions compared to bartering, which requires a cumbersome double coincidence of wants. Thus, while money serves as a motivator, it does so to fulfill other underlying desires and needs.
Consideration of whether we are masters of money or if money masters us is integral to understanding our relationship with it. The continuous pursuit of money, often linked with productivity and profit, prompts a reflection on our life's purposes and whether alternative drivers should be more esteemed.