The Motivation Gap Model first formulated by Victor Vroom and also known as expectancy theory considers motivation as a perceived gap between a current state A and a desired state B on any possible area a subject is interested in or affected by.
Motivation will turn into action -positive (seeking) or negative (avoiding, fighting)- when the gap is significant enough as to overcome the status quo.
Using the diagram shown at the beginning, we can distinguish several situations:
- No motivation (or motivation to keep current situation): A=B
- Low motivation: gap =< 1
- High motivation: gap between 1 and 2 intervals
- Too High Motivation: gap >2
- Negative Motivation (avoidance): negative gap
Level 4 situations are those in which the perceived gap is too wide and discouraging.
Level 5 situations are those in which we have "too much of a good thing" -think of accepting out of courtesy an extra helping when you're no longer with an appetite-.
One important component of Vroom's approach is to recognize that insatisfaction and not satisfaction is what actually triggers action.
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