Fig. 1.

A simplified diagram of the influencing factors and processes that are involved in motivation. This framework of motivation places cost–benefit analysis central to the concept of motivation. Three major categories of factors are known to influence motivation: the individual’s physiological state, the environment, and the individual’s past history. Information about all 3 categories of factors will be subject to a number of processes (represented inside the blue oval), including evaluation and encoding. In almost all circumstances, the motive, environment, and physiological state will not be novel; therefore, information will also undergo learning and retrieval processes. All of the combined processes result in weighting of all the costs and benefits related to the motive, and the output of the cost–benefit calculation will impact upon the direction and vigor of action that the individual takes toward the motive goal