I propose a model that explains what causes (and sustains) a Motivation Wave. My hypothesis: Motivation Waves are CYCLICAL. Whether you ride one out for a bit, or crash soon after, it’s only a matter of time until you hit another one.

1. What causes (and sustains) a
MOTIVATION!WAVE?
Kelly Schmutte, 10. 23. 12

2. Hypothesis:
Motivation Waves are
CYCLICAL.
Whether you ride one
out for a bit, or crash
soon after, it’s only a
matter of time until you
hit another one.

3. Riding the Wave
(positive feedback
loop) Trigger
A variety of Accelerators in the
Momentum Zone start to build toward
a Motivation Wave. After the priming of
the Accelerators, a final Trigger starts the Wave.
The Motivation Wave can be sustained for awhile
through a Positive Feedback Loop, but will eventually subside.

4. A variety of Accelerators in the Momentum Zone start to build toward a Motivation
Wave. A key emotional component that ultimately drives the person to act is GUILT.
Tangible Feedback (negative). Immediate, real-time feedback that one’s actions (or
lack thereof) are of direct personal harm to oneself.
Social Influence (negative). Being pressured out of guilt based on what one’s peers or
surrounding community are doing. Social influence is tremendously powerful in
motivating behavior, either from a negative or positive angle. People have an innate need
to belong to a community, and will adopt all kinds of behaviors to achieve this sense of
belonging.
Decrease in Perceived Effort. A decline in what one thinks a given behavior is going
to cost in terms of one’s time and energy.
The more Accelerators,
Sense of Agency. A sense that what one is doing is really making a difference. the higher the Wave
amplitude.
Sense of Agency
Decrease in Perceived Effort
Social Influence (negative)
Tangible Feedback (negative)

5. After a person has been “primed” with one or more of these Accelerators, a
Trigger will set the Motivation Wave in motion. The Trigger could come in
any size, shape, or form, but simply removes the floodgates on the emotions
and motivations that have been building in the Motivation Zone.
Trigger
Sense of Agency
Decrease in Perceived Effort
Social Influence (negative)
Tangible Feedback (negative)

6. Social Influence (positive)
Riding the Wave
Sense of Agency Tangible Feedback (positive)
(positive feedback
loop)
Decrease in Perceived Effort
EMPOWERMENT
A new set of Accelerators (all of which are the same forces
as in the Momentum Zone, just from a positive angle)
create the potential to keep a person riding high on the
Motivation Wave. Tangible Feedback now serves to
reinforce the behavior, and Social Influence helps to make a
person feel positively enabled based on the encouragement
and leadership of one’s friends, family, and community.
Guilt, the overarching emotion in the Momentum Zone,
has been replaced by a feeling of EMPOWERMENT.
The Motivation Wave can be sustained for awhile through
this Positive Feedback Loop, but will eventually subside.

7. AN!EXAMPLE… My co-workers have been so supportive. And
Dan even invited me to go riding with him and
the guys sometime.
Motivation Wave for I really can control my figure. (Social Influence)
(Sense of Agency)
Kathy being more Riding the Wave My pants fit better, the scale is
going down, and I just have so
physically Biking is easier than I thought! And it seems (positive feedback much more energy!
active like it gets easier every day. The showers at loop) (Tangible Feedback)
work make it easier, too.
(Decrease in Perceived Effort) Jenny invites me to bike to work
with her and Jeff on Friday. I
(If and when the positive feedback EMPOWERMENT decide to give biking a try for a
couple weeks.
loop subsides, Kathy will see the (Trigger)
Motivation Wave die out and will
eventually start the cycle again.) I’m not really trying, but
I know I could lose weight
biking if I just tried it.
(Sense of Agency)
Dan got me that new bike for
Christmas and I know it’s
comfortable and easy to ride.
More are more people are (Decrease in Perceived Effort)
biking to work since they
I notice I’ve gained weight and started that incentive
my pants are tight. program.
(Tangible Feedback) (Social Influence)