Final answer:
Motivation is the process by which needs or wants direct behavior towards a goal, and this can be influenced by internal physiological states or external rewards. It is crucial in explaining why we behave the way we do, from seeking food when we are hungry to performing activities for personal fulfillment or external acknowledgment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Motivation refers to the wants or needs that direct behavior toward achieving a particular goal. This can be the result of internal stimuli, like physiological needs that drive us to eat when we're hungry based on the drive theory of motivation. Or it can be due to external rewards, known as extrinsic motivation, which might propel us to perform certain behaviors in order to receive recognition or a prize from others. Intrinsic motivation, on the other hand, is based on internal feelings of satisfaction and often leads us to engage in activities that we find personally rewarding without any external incentive.
For example, if we haven't eaten for a while, our blood sugar levels decrease which creates a physiological need. This need will then trigger a drive state, like hunger, directing our behavior towards seeking and consuming food to restore our body's homeostasis. Such behavioral responses may become habitual, meaning once a behavior successfully reduces a drive, we are more likely to repeat that behavior in future similar situations. This illustrates how our needs and the drive to fulfill them are fundamental to the way we behave.