MOTIVATION 101 FOR POKER PLAYERS: UNDERSTANDING YOUR INTRINSIC MOTIVATION
Hello, everyone! Welcome to the second blog in the Performance 101 series for Poker Players.
As highlighted in the title, this blog will delve into motivation, a topic frequently discussed among poker players.
My goal, consistent with the entire series, is to present concepts in an easily understandable manner, shedding light on the complexities of how your mind, body, and behavior interact.
In this blog, we will explore:
What is Motivation?
The three fundamental psychological needs for Intrinsic Motivation
When we look up Motivation on Google, we encounter two types: Intrinsic and Extrinsic. While both are vital and serve their purposes, our focus today will be exclusively on Intrinsic motivation.
Let’s get started!
Intrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic motivation originates from within the individual. Although it’s commonly easier to recognize when individuals engage in activities they inherently find satisfying or enjoyable, it’s crucial to emphasize that internal motivation is also key in engaging in challenging activities, or those we may not enjoy or find pleasurable.
Take, for example, enjoyable activities. Players might express:
“I adore playing Poker; I can spend hours and consecutive days playing because it brings me joy and I’m passionate about it.”
Conversely, an intrinsically motivated player might state:
“Studying is tough for me, it’s not particularly enjoyable, but I recognize its importance and necessity for my growth as a player, so I choose to dedicate more time to studying during the week and less to playing.”
Motivation isn’t solely about engaging in activities we feel inclined to do but also about undertaking tasks that are essential for our growth, regardless of our immediate feelings towards them.
Therefore, I aim to clarify common misconceptions about motivation in this blog. Often, beginning an activity — whether it’s going to the gym, improving our diet, or adjusting our bedtime routine — doesn’t require an initial sense of attraction or enjoyment.
As previously mentioned, motivation transcends mere desire. It reflects our intentions, values, and beliefs.
The 3 Fundamental Psychological Needs for Intrinsic Motivation
Let’s explore the three fundamental psychological needs crucial for intrinsic motivation. View these needs in the following light: When these needs are nurtured and supported, individuals tend to adopt healthy behaviors that promote growth and prioritize their well-being, ultimately improving their performance. On the other hand, when these needs are neglected or thwarted, it results in declines in motivation, cognition, emotion, and other psychological aspects.
Motivation transcends mere action or inaction, or achieving desires. It is intrinsically linked to an individual’s well-being and personal development.
The three fundamental needs critical for fostering intrinsic motivation include Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness.
For a deeper understanding of how our beliefs impact this process, refer to the article on Mindset 101. Indeed, it covers a topic closely related to what we’re discussing here.
Autonomy
Autonomy refers to the significance of initiating actions and our readiness to undertake them. It encompasses our ability to make choices, essentially translating our intentions into actions.
In essence, autonomy is about how empowered we feel in decision-making. Challenges arise when our choices are influenced by internal or external forces, which may subconsciously seem controlling. This unmet need can then adversely affect our motivation.
Examples of Unfulfilled Autonomy:
Studying because you feel obligated to do so (Internal pressure)
Studying because your team requires it of you (External pressure)
Examples of Fulfilled Autonomy:
Choosing to study, despite its challenges and it not being your preferred activity, because you see its value in your growth as a player
Recognizing the importance of personal growth and choosing to study reflects fulfilled autonomy.
The initial step towards nurturing our intrinsic motivation is to embrace ownership of our decisions and their consequences. It’s acceptable to choose not to study, but it’s also crucial to acknowledge how this decision impacts your performance.
In summary, intrinsic motivation diminishes when actions are driven by obligation or coercion. Conversely, when actions are rooted in personal significance, they nourish our intrinsic motivation.
Key concepts: Ownership and Self-Endorsement.
Competence
Competence relates to our sense of capability and effectiveness in performing tasks. It’s not just about possessing certain skills but feeling proficient and efficient in utilizing those skills. Importantly, it involves having opportunities to develop and apply these skills.
Considering the context of studying, our need for competence might feel unmet in situations such as:
Believing that studying is unnecessary
Lacking effective study strategies
Feeling incapable of learning or studying effectively
Struggling to apply learned knowledge in gameplay
Being unsure about what aspects of the study to prioritize
Finding it difficult to assess our skill level accurately
Conversely, we satisfy our need for competence when:
We possess and implement effective study and learning strategies
We recognize the positive effects of our studies on our gameplay
We have a structured study plan
We can accurately assess our skill level and tailor our study focus accordingly
We feel confident in our ability to learn and improve in areas critical to our development
Once again, the role of beliefs is significant in shaping our sense of competence.
Relatedness:
Relatedness concerns the impact of our relationships and the nature of our connections on our motivation. It involves feeling supported and valued by our social group, how responsive our friends, colleagues, or family are to our needs and emotions, and our ability to connect with and understand others. It’s about the effort we invest in empathizing with their feelings and needs.
Relatedness focuses on the depth of our connections, encompassing feelings of belonging, connection, and mutual support. This dynamic involves both giving and receiving.
Our need for relatedness remains unmet when we don’t feel supported or acknowledged.
For instance, if our social circle or family fails to support our pursuit of poker due to their biases against the game, it can undermine our intrinsic motivation as well as diminish the quality of our relationships and overall well-being.
Throughout my experience as a performance psychologist, I’ve observed players who maintain strong, healthy relationships with their friends and family, and others who, regrettably, do not share such bonds.
The quality of our emotional connections significantly influences our life quality. Consider how your life might change if those who currently support you ceased to do so. Conversely, imagine the impact if those who currently withhold their support began to offer it. How would that shift in support make you feel?
I want to emphasize that these three needs are inherently complex, but my aim here is to simplify them for better understanding.
So, what steps can we take if we’re facing issues with motivation?
The initial step I suggest is to introspect and assess whether you’re meeting these fundamental needs. When lacking motivation, consider asking yourself the following questions:
Autonomy: Is this something I genuinely want to do, or am I feeling pressured, whether internally or externally?
Competence: Do I believe I possess the necessary tools, skills, and knowledge for this task? Do I doubt my abilities? Am I scared of failing, or worried I might discover I’m not as competent as I thought?
Relatedness: Do I feel supported and understood by those around me? Am I offering understanding and support in return?
These inquiries are not meant to substitute for professional guidance but to serve as a self-reflection tool to pinpoint what might be hindering your motivation.
I’ve skipped over a discussion on Extrinsic Motivation because it requires a detailed analysis. However, I believe this introduction to motivation, with a focus on these core concepts, offers valuable insight into the common challenges of feeling unmotivated.
Conclusion
Understanding these needs brings us closer to our values, beliefs, and resources. It also enables us to comprehend the nature of our environment. When we are unable to make choices or are compelled to act under internal or external pressures, or when we feel or are made to feel incapable, or lack support from our circle of friends and family, all these factors not only shape our quality of life but inevitably impact our performance too.
Let’s strive to create an environment in which we enjoy the freedom of choice, feel supported, and possess the necessary tools for our development. This approach is crucial for nurturing intrinsic motivation.