Predictably Irrational - basic human motivations: Dan Ariely at TEDxMidwest

Summary

In this talk, the speaker delves into the complexities of human motivation, challenging the simplistic view of work as merely a means to enjoy leisure. Through experiments like the Lego task and the Sisyphus condition, he highlights how meaning, recognition, and a sense of achievement drive motivation more than money alone. Drawing on examples like mountain climbing, IKEA furniture, and the creation of origami, the speaker argues that humans thrive when they experience challenges and feel connected to their work. The talk urges a shift in workplace dynamics, suggesting that fostering meaningful tasks can greatly enhance motivation and satisfaction.

Takeaways

• 😀 Human motivation is often oversimplified as the desire for money to enjoy leisure, but it can be driven by deeper factors like achievement and challenge.
• 😀 The example of mountain climbing challenges the view that people only work to relax; instead, people are motivated by the pursuit of a goal or overcoming hardship.
• 😀 Motivation can be demotivated when there is a lack of meaning in the task, as seen in the Lego experiment where participants were less engaged when their creations were destroyed.
• 😀 In the Lego experiment, participants in the 'Sisyphus' condition (where their work was destroyed) built fewer robots compared to those in the 'meaningful' condition.
• 😀 People often underestimate the importance of meaning in motivating action. Small differences, like acknowledging someone's effort, can significantly impact motivation.
• 😀 The 'IKEA effect' suggests that people value items more if they have invested effort into creating them, even if the task is challenging or the result is imperfect.
• 😀 Acknowledging someone's work can boost motivation, while ignoring or destroying their work can drastically reduce it.
• 😀 The human tendency to overvalue what they create is illustrated by the IKEA effect, where people value DIY furniture more than pre-assembled furniture.
• 😀 The experiments highlight that feeling ownership and effort in a task can increase motivation and satisfaction, even in tasks like origami or cake-baking.
• 😀 Motivation is complex, and while money can serve as a motivator, it should not be the sole focus; factors like meaning, challenge, and recognition play a significant role.
• 😀 The traditional model of labor motivation, where payment is the main driver, doesn't fully capture the complexities of human behavior in a knowledge-based economy.

Q & A

What does the speaker suggest is the basic human motivation according to traditional economics?

According to traditional economics, the basic human motivation is that people work to earn money, which they then use to enjoy leisure, such as sitting on a beach drinking mojitos. This view sees work as a necessary means to an end, with the end being leisure.

How does the example of mountain climbing challenge the traditional economic view of human motivation?

The example of mountain climbing challenges the traditional view by showing that people willingly endure great hardship, discomfort, and even danger for the sense of achievement, accomplishment, and conquering a goal. This suggests that humans are motivated by more than just relaxation and leisure.

What is the significance of the story about David, the ex-student?

David's story illustrates the importance of meaning in work. Despite completing a successful project, his motivation disappeared when the project was canceled, highlighting that a lack of meaningful outcomes can lead to demotivation, even when functional success is achieved.

What was the purpose of the Bionicle Lego experiment, and what did it reveal about motivation?

The purpose of the Bionicle Lego experiment was to study how the perception of meaning affects motivation. The experiment revealed that participants were more motivated when the task had some form of meaning (i.e., the Bionicles were kept intact), whereas they were less motivated when the task was repetitive and their creations were taken apart, illustrating the demotivating effect of meaningless tasks.

What does the 'Sisyphic condition' in the Lego experiment represent, and what was its impact on participants?

The 'Sisyphic condition' in the Lego experiment represents a situation where participants repeatedly build Lego models only to have them destroyed in front of them. This condition was demotivating, as it drained participants of enjoyment and decreased their persistence in the task.

What was the main finding regarding the correlation between people's enjoyment of Legos and their persistence in the task?

The main finding was that in the meaningful condition, people who naturally loved Legos were more likely to persist in building more models. However, in the Sisyphic condition, this correlation disappeared, suggesting that the repetitive, meaningless nature of the task nullified their natural enjoyment of Legos.

What did the experiment with the letter sheets demonstrate about the importance of acknowledgment in motivation?

The experiment with letter sheets demonstrated that acknowledgment significantly impacts motivation. Participants who received some acknowledgment, such as their name being noted or their work being inspected, were willing to work for much less money compared to those who had their work ignored or shredded, highlighting the power of recognition in sustaining motivation.

What does the IKEA effect refer to, and how does it relate to motivation?

The IKEA effect refers to the phenomenon where people place a higher value on things they have put effort into creating, such as assembling furniture. This effect suggests that when people invest effort into a task, they develop a stronger attachment to the outcome, which in turn increases their motivation and satisfaction.

How does the experiment with origami support the idea of the IKEA effect?

The origami experiment supports the IKEA effect by showing that people who put more effort into creating their origami (even with difficult instructions) valued their creations more than those who had less involvement. The more challenging the task, the more satisfaction and value people derived from their creation, reflecting the IKEA effect.

What is the key message the speaker is trying to convey about human motivation in the workplace?

The key message is that human motivation is complex and cannot be reduced to just monetary rewards. Factors such as meaning, accomplishment, and personal involvement in tasks are critical for sustaining motivation. Reducing motivation solely to pay or rewards, as often seen in workplaces, overlooks these essential elements.