title: Multiple types of motives don't multiply the motivation of West Point cadets.
abstract: Although people often assume that multiple motives for doing something will be more powerful and effective than a single motive, research suggests that different types of motives for the same action sometimes compete. More specifically, research suggests that instrumental motives, which are extrinsic to the activities at hand, can weaken internal motives, which are intrinsic to the activities at hand. We tested whether holding both instrumental and internal motives yields negative outcomes in a field context in which various motives occur naturally and long-term educational and career outcomes are at stake. We assessed the impact of the motives of over 10,000 West Point cadets over the period of a decade on whether they would become commissioned officers, extend their officer service beyond the minimum required period, and be selected for early career promotions. For each outcome, motivation internal to military service itself predicted positive outcomes; a relationship that was negatively affected when instrumental motives were also in evidence. These results suggest that holding multiple motives damages persistence and performance in educational and occupational contexts over long periods of time.
authors: Organizational Behavior, Yale School of Management, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511; amy.wrzesniewski@yale.edu.
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Wrzesniewski
authors: Department of Psychology, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA 19081; and.
authors: Barry
authors: B
authors: Schwartz
authors: Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520.
authors: Xiangyu
authors: X
authors: Cong
authors: Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Kane
authors: Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520.
authors: Audrey
authors: A
authors: Omar
authors: Organizational Behavior, Yale School of Management, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511;
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Kolditz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004517:Education, Professional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009042:Motivation; D011592:Psychology, Military; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: crowding out; overjustification effect