Motivation Myth Busters Science-Based Strategies to Boost Motivation in Yourself and Others

What does science tell us about motivation? This book challenges common myths about motivation and offers readers strategies for successfully motivating themselves and others.

Many unscientific and inaccurate ideas about motivation persist because they seem so logical, simple, or appealing. For example, we may say that someone is “unmotivated” and assume that this is just part of their personality, whereas in reality everyone is motivated and it’s more likely that their inaction is related to their interests or to their environment.

This book reveals the scientific truth about motivation. Readers will learn to identify and debunk ten persistent myths about motivation—for example, that visualizing success leads to success, that competition increases motivation for everyone, and that rewards are the best way to enhance motivation—and replace those myths with accurate knowledge that will help them take positive steps toward their goals.
 
Each chapter uses cutting-edge psychological research and theory to offer scientifically supported strategies for boosting motivation in a variety of contexts including school, work, health, and parenting.

Wendy Grolnick, PhD, is professor of psychology at Clark University, an expert on motivation, and one of the country's leading parenting researchers. She has published more than 75 articles in scholarly journals and authored The Psychology of Parental Control: How Well-Meant Parenting Backfires and Pressured Parents, Stressed-Out Kids: Dealing with Competition while Raising a Successful Child and coedited Retrospect and Prospect in the Psychological Study of Families. Dr. Grolnick's work has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the William T. Grant Foundation, and the Spencer Foundation.

Benjamin Heddy, PhD, is an associate professor at the University of Oklahoma in the Learning Science program. He is an expert on student motivation and learning especially in K-12 contexts and for academically at-risk children and he focuses specifically on how to change people's motivation and knowledge. Dr. Heddy's research has been funded by the Oklahoma State Department of Education and he has published over 30 research articles. He currently serves as the chair of the Committee for the Development of Early Career Educational Psychologists for Division 15 of APA as well as serving on the Coalition for Psychology in Schools in Education for APA.

Frank C. Worrell, PhD, is a professor in the Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Berkeley, where he serves as director of the School Psychology program and faculty director of the Academic Talent Development Program. He was the 2022 president of the APA and he also holds an affiliate appointment in the Social and Personality Area in the department of psychology. Dr. Worrell is the author of over 170 journal articles and 80 book chapters and he provides workshops for school psychologists, teachers, and parents.

Introduction. Motivation: Sticky ideas and the science that can free us
Chapter 1. All people are motivated
Chapter 2. There are more effective motivators than rewards
Chapter 3. Competition can be demotivating
Chapter 4. Motivation is not enough for success
Chapter 5. Planning steps to reach goals is more effective than visualizing success
Chapter 6. We should not wait for motivation to strike
Chapter 7. People need help assessing their abilities
Chapter 8. Structure can increase motivation
Chapter 9. Focusing on effort is more effective than emphasizing ability
Chapter 10. Structural inequities decrease motivation in even the most competent people
Chapter 11. Getting unstuck: diagnosing and solving motivation problems