What Are the 4 Types of Intent in Motivation and Goals? | Part 2

TL;DR

The four types of intent behind goals are desires, values, shoulds, and duties. They differ according to whether pursuing them feels like a gain or loss and whether the reward is internal or external. Distinguishing a social expectation from an obligation or personal desire gives coaches more precise language for understanding motivation, so read on for the framework and practical examples.

Transcript

so we're trying something a little bit new this week at healthy gamer um so a lot of people like thousands of people have expressed interest or curiosity about becoming coaches um i also know that a ton of people in our community are really interested in like understanding motivation so part of what we're going to be doing today is teaching our coa... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤨 Raising awareness and understanding is crucial in driving behavioral change.
• 🥺 Different drives, such as desires, values, shoulds, and duties, can lead to conflicts and ambivalence.
• 🆘 Emphasizing the costs and challenges of behavior helps individuals make informed decisions and take necessary actions.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the four types of intent behind a goal?

The four types of intent are desires, values, shoulds, and duties. They represent different internal drives that may lead someone to choose or pursue a goal.

Q: What is the difference between a should and a duty?

A duty is something a person believes they owe to someone else, involving responsibility or obligation. A should can come from family or social pressure without being something the person owes anyone.

Q: How do values influence motivation and goal setting?

Values reflect things a person cares about. Identifying them helps clarify whether a goal comes from genuine concern or from a different drive, such as pressure, obligation, or desire.

Q: What are desires in the four types of intent framework?

Desires are wants that can arise independently of duty, obligation, or values. Examples include wanting food after smelling it or wanting to play League to defeat other players.

Q: Why is precise language important when discussing motivation?

Different internal drives can share words such as should, which can hide the actual source of motivation. More specific language helps coaches diagnose the motivational problem correctly and determine what needs to be addressed.

Q: How are the four types of intent organized?

The framework considers whether following an intent produces a gain or requires a loss. It also considers whether the resulting reward is internal or external.

Q: Where do desires fit in the intent framework?

Desires are placed in the gain and external reward category. Here, external reward includes bodily satisfaction or another form of pleasure.

Q: Where do shoulds fit in the intent framework?

Shoulds are described as involving a loss because the person may have to give up something, such as personal happiness. Following a should can provide an external reward, including approval or social respectability.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Definition: Intent describes what drives a person to choose or pursue a goal.

• Definition: Desires are wants unrelated to duty, obligation, or values.

• Definition: Values are things a person cares about.

• Definition: Shoulds can arise from pressure imposed by family or society.

• Definition: Duties involve responsibility or an obligation owed to someone else.

• Compare: A should may reflect social judgment, while a duty involves something owed to another person.

• Compare: The framework classifies drives by gain or loss and by internal or external reward.

• Definition: External reward includes bodily satisfaction or pleasure, and desires fall in the gain and external reward category.