Final answer:
The motivation problem in The Simpsons concerns low P-O instrumentality, where the characters are struggling to see the link between their efforts and expected outcomes. This can happen when individual performance cannot be evaluated or when the task is easy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Simpsons and Motivation
The motivation problem in the scenarios you provided concerns low P-O instrumentality. This means that the characters in The Simpsons are facing difficulty in seeing the link between their efforts (E-P expectancies) and the outcomes or rewards they expect (P-O instrumentality). When their individual performance cannot be evaluated or the task is easy, their motivation may decline.
For example, if Bart's efforts in studying cannot be evaluated by his teacher, he may not see the connection between his studying (effort) and getting good grades (outcome). Similarly, if Lisa finds a task to be very easy, she may not perceive any instrumentality between her efforts and the expected rewards.