Having clarified in the previous articles the factors that cause an increase in both basic and daily motivation, we will focus in the following lines on another characteristic that motivation entails, with the aim that you continue to reflect on the type of motivation that in your particular case leads you to maintain a high level of effort in training and to have fun and enjoy the sport you have decided to practice.

When we refer to motivation, we can talk about the existence, in a golf player, of a high or low intrinsic motivation or, on the contrary, we can evaluate the reasons why a player practices this sport and come to the conclusion that that player has a high or too low extrinsic motivation.

Various types of awards

To help you understand the terms better, intrinsic motivation refers to motivation that does not depend on external rewards or reinforcements. In other words, a golfer with high intrinsic motivation does not need to be awarded a trophy or prize at the end of a competition, or to be rewarded with any material object by their parents or coaches for playing well or achieving certain goals, or to have their tee time extended if they attend training regularly.

Conversely, extrinsic motivation is based primarily on all types of external reinforcers, such as those mentioned in the previous section. Therefore, a player with high extrinsic motivation, in the absence of intrinsic motivation, will need these reinforcers to continue training hard, and the moment these reinforcers cease, they will soon abandon their sport.

Encarna María Lozano Casero

Psychologist specializing in Physical Activity and Sport