Final answer:
A cognitive theory of motivation centers on the influence of mental processes on our behavior, differentiating it from biological, behavioral, or external factors-based approaches. It is the cognitive aspect that energizes and directs behavior by accounting for individual thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A cognitive theory of motivation focuses on mental processes as "springs to action" that energize and direct behavior in purposive ways. This approach to motivation considers how our thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes can affect our behavior and propel us towards achieving certain goals.
Cognitive theories contrast with other motivational theories, such as those that emphasize biological or external factors, by encouraging us to consider the role of an individual's understanding, expectations, and interpretations of the world around them. For example, if someone believes that studying hard will result in getting better grades (a cognitive appraisal), they are likely to be motivated to put in more effort into their studies.
Other theories mentioned in the text, like the instinct theory proposed by William James, which asserts that behavior is driven by instincts, and Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which orders human needs from the physiological to the self-actualizing, take a more biological or hierarchical approach to motivation. Nonetheless, the focus here is on how cognitive processes specifically contribute to our motivation.