Amotivation

Meaning: In self-determination theory (Deci and Ryan), motivation is arranged along a continuum of self-determination. Amotivation is one end. The person has no intention to act because they do not value the activity, do not expect to succeed, or do not believe their actions affect the outcome. Moving along the continuum come extrinsic motivation (behavior driven by rewards, punishments or outside pressure, which can be internalized to varying degrees) and then intrinsic motivation (acting for inherent enjoyment or interest). The theory proposes that autonomy, competence and relatedness support self-determined motivation. When these needs are thwarted, motivation tends to shift toward amotivation.

On the MCAT: A passage describes students, workers or participants who put in no effort and show neither interest in the task nor interest in rewards. You classify the behavior as amotivation, extrinsic motivation or intrinsic motivation. A related question may ask how a change, such as removing a person's sense of control, would move someone along the continuum. It also connects to learned helplessness, where uncontrollable outcomes lead to giving up.

Common confusion: Amotivation is not low intrinsic motivation, and it is not motivation by outside pressure. A student who studies only to avoid a parent's anger is extrinsically motivated, not amotivated. Amotivation means no motivation to act at all.