Motivation plays hand in hand with autonomy on a continuum that goes from no motivation to the most extreme forms of motivation. The most vital forms of motivation are associated with the most satisfaction and achievement in self-determination and autonomy (Cox, 2012). This ranges on a scale of weakest at amotivation, to extrinsic motivation, all the way to the most potent form of motivation which is intrinsic motivation. The routes of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation give us an idea of what type of motivation we will be looking at with extrinsic being external motivation, and intrinsic being internal motivation. This means that people with intrinsic motivation will engage in activities that interest them simply because they want to due to factors like enjoyment, growth, and knowledge (Cox, 2012). Extrinsic motivation usually deals with an act someone may not necessarily want to engage in, but is motivated to do so due to the external factor of a reward or maybe even punishment if the task is not completed (Cox, 2012). It makes sense why intrinsically motivated people would experience higher self-satisfaction and motivation because they act out of their desire to do so rather than having to be motivated by receiving something in return for doing something.

Personally, I feel like I experience a lot of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation in relation to most of the tasks I complete. For example, when it comes to school I feel like I am intrinsically motivated to complete my assignments because of my goals, morals, and where I want to see myself in life. At the same time, I feel there is a bit of extrinsic motivation in relation to this due to the fact that I do pay for college, and that it would be all for nothing if I were to fail so this also serves as a bit of motivation. The extrinsic motivational thinking seems to stress me more than intrinsically thinking about it since it is something I want to do and have passion for, not something I have to do or else risk losing out.