Psychology

This article was written by Frank Pajares, in The Journal of Education Research Vol. 95 No. 1, published September 2001. In this article, the author tries to explore the different theories in positive psychology which was deemed as valuable in better academic motivation for students and faculties alike. Specifically, this article tries to explore the possibility of combining theories from positive psychology into motivating theories, with the aim of having better academic motivation. In this study, the author actually argues that there are many positive psychological theories that may help in achieving goals, different expectancies, beliefs and values and that such positive psychological theories actually serve as predictive variables of such. There is a reaffirmation in the use of positive psychology and motivation theories in achieving higher academic performance. The author argues that to develop ones learning ability, it is also necessary to build ones self-efficacy and so that the motivation of the student will not only be motivated to learn based on grades and on a short term basis, but on internal motivation of learning for the longer term. The study also calls for the continuation of the awarding of medals and scholarships which can reinforce their abilities and can be motivated according to self worth and self esteem. For the purpose of this study, task goals where primarily associated positively with optimism, and where also positively correlated with invitations.

Meanwhile, optimism and perceived authenticity where correlated negatively with performance oriented goals. In addition, value constructs and expectancy where also positively associated with invitations, perceived authenticity and optimism. The study also found out that the different positive psychology variables where in fact stronger in high achieving students than in low achieving ones, and that boys have stronger perceived authenticity as compared to girls, and that in conclusion, the constructs that can be drawn from positive psychology can actually explain higher academic motivation and in that effect, higher academic achievement.

Positive psychology is all about the application of theories to the development of the self-worth and the self-efficacy of the individual. It focuses on the positive outlooks of an individual, in which motivation and encouragement serves as an essential component. According to positive psychology theories, having a high esteem of the self, as well as having encouragements and achievements that promote the development of a self efficacy is important, and can help persons achieve more their goals, and have more accomplishments.

Also, motivation is important in achieving goals, for a person who does not have motivation will be more likely not to achieve their goals. In this case, it is also true that persons can have more motivation when they have a higher self worth of themselves, making them believe that they have the capability to achieve what they want. In this case, whenever accomplishments bring self worth, they will be motivated better, as the study points out. This is also true in the learning process. Learning is not all about necessity or survival, for when a person does not have the motivation to learn, and then heshe will not learn. However, whenever the learning process creates a situation wherein a person while have a higher self worth and a better self esteem, then they will be more motivated to learn. Having a higher self worth and self esteem makes a better motivating factor for any person. Optimism plays a key concept in positive psychology, for it summarizes a persons positive outlook in life, beneficial to persons having task-goal orientations.

In this case, I think that positive psychology and motivation is truly positively related. This is because of the fact that having optimism surely gives one person the best motivation to accomplish a goal, and is also important for a person to remain focused on accomplishing a goal to success despite challenges and failures. Necessity alone does not give enough motivation for people to be able to accomplish their goals and have a higher achievement, and this is proven in schools. Although it is generally known that education is actually essential for people to have success in life, there are still a significant proportion of students who are not motivated to finish their studies and even drop out of schools. In addition, take note of the fact that there are some people which are studying, but whose motivation is being athletes for the school, or for prestige, due to the fact that learning per se does not give a feeling of self efficacy and self worth, making them not motivated enough to succeed.