ABSTRACT
Motivation is the process that activates, guides and maintains behavior. Teachers need to understand what motivates their students as this has a significant impact on planning and classroom management. Punishment is the opposite of reinforcement since it weakens or eliminates behaviour. It can involve applying an unpleasant consequence or removing a pleasant consequence. Cognitive theorists argue that motivation stems both from the desire to accomplish goals and the need to avoid failure. Attribution theory explores the way in which an individual’s explanation of success and failure influences their subsequent motivation. Albert Bandura is a Canadian psychologist whose ideas incorporate elements of both behaviourist and cognitive approaches. A significant limitation of the behaviourist approach is that explanations arising from animal studies neglect the influence of human cognition. Motivating students to engage in learning is an essential aspect of the teacher’s role. Poor motivation often leads to low achievement and can result in classroom management problems.
