Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED)

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Dan Pink on the surprising science of motivation

In this video, Dan Pink (former speechwriter for Al Gore) talks about changing our economic motivation model. Pink proposes that we move away from operant conditioning and towards a model of motivation based on autonomy, mastery, and purpose. To clarify, Pink describes each part of this model, "autonomy, the urge to direct our own lives, mastery, the desire to get better and better at something that matters, and purpose, the yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves" (2009). Though Pink describes the benefits of his "right-brained" model of motivation, he does not clarify how to introduce the model into a society based on extrinsic motivation. In addition, John Durkin, professor at the University of Victoria, states, "Motivation is one of those concepts that seems easy to understand at first, but that becomes very difficult to define in specific ways, or to implement with specific strategies leading to expected outcomes" (165). If Durkin is correct, how can we determine if Pink's data is accurate?

However, though motivation may be hard to determine, I believe that Pink's model would be better suited to help students develop creativity and critical thinking. Typically, operant conditioning tends to divorce intrinsic meaning from actions by imposing a preset meaning and reward. Therefore, I believe the best way for students to find meaning in school work, is by allowing them to explore Pink's concepts of autonomy, mastery, and purpose.

Durkin, J. (2003). Cases in educational psychology: A Canadian perspective. Toronto, Ontario: Pearson Education Canada Inc.

Pink, D. (July, 2009). Dan Pink on the surprising science of motivation [Talks]. http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/dan_pink_on_motivation.html.