Extrinsic And Intrinsic Factors

EXTRINSIC AND INTRINSIC FACTORS

Introduction

All actions and choices an individual makes are related to the mental state and performance of their brain. Due to the complex neurological network which is responsible for the sharing and transferring of information, activation and arousal of organs, and memory the human brain is the powerhouse which drives human behaviors, more-so than any other part of and individuals body. The main objective of psychologists is to find the underlying reasons for why one acts as one does. Exactly what drives them to act in specific ways has been the center of many studies. One area that has been found particularly interesting to researchers is what causes an individual to become addicted to drugs, and how it can help to prevent people from using and addiction to drugs.

“External rewards and reward pathways in the brain affect motivation and behavior, especially in addiction. Incentives of all types have been shown to affect motivation. For humans, intrinsic motivation that is internally generated differs from extrinsic motivation that is imposed by external sources.” (Grolnick, 2007)

Discussion

There are two main internal and external influences which regulate an individual's likelihood of drug use, genetics and environmental influences. Each of these influences may vary in intensity from one individual to the next. A person's character has a great deal to do with influencing factors and their tendency towards substance abuse. For example, in Florida recently they enacted a new law in regards to those who receive public assistance which requires them to be subject to drug testing. There are those who genuinely need the help and do not squander the public monies they receive on drugs and/or alcohol, these are the individuals who will not mind being subject to the testing (Lepper and Nisbett, 2003). However there are those who are scamming the system and use the money they receive, and even make money off the books so they can continue to receive assistance but still do their drugs and drink are up in arms over the new regulations. One good thing is they do offer help for those who wish to get help and begin to live a drug free life. The researcher personally agrees with the new regulations because if we need to be drug free to be gainfully employed then those who receive free aide should also have to abide by the same rules. (Zuckerman, 2008)

Brain Structures and Functions on Motivation

The matrix of an individual's brain may have an influence over whether or not one uses drugs or not. This alone may not be the only determining factor over ones drug use, there are intrinsic and extrinsic factors which have some bearing on individual behaviors as well, which will be a determining factor of whether an individual choose to use drugs or not. One of the key effects of drug use which triggers most addictions is the stimulation of certain brain centers, stimulating these pleasure centers creates a euphoric feeling that an addict winds up in constant search ...