Final answer:
Motivation involves wants or needs that drive behavior toward a goal, which can be based on instincts, physiological drives like hunger, or psychological needs as outlined in Maslow's hierarchy. It encompasses both intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Motivation refers to the wants or needs that direct behavior toward a goal. This can include instincts, which are unlearned, species-specific patterns of behavior, such as an infant's rooting for a nipple. Moreover, drive theory adds another layer, suggesting that physiological needs stemming from deviations in homeostasis create psychological drive states that propel behavior to meet the need and re-establish balance. For instance, the sensation of hunger after blood sugar levels fall prompts the behavior of seeking food. Once satiated, homeostasis is restored.
There are also internal motivations known as intrinsic motivation, which involve performing tasks for the sense of personal satisfaction, rather than for some external reward, which would be called extrinsic motivation. Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs is another concept in psychology that outlines the range of motives from basic biological needs to self-actualization, the highest level of psychological development according to Maslow.