What does expectancy-value theory assert about motivation?

What does expectancy-value theory assert about motivation?

• A. Motivation equals expectancy times value
• B. Evoked by novelty
• C. Based on social comparison
• D. Driven by fear

Answer: (A)

Motivation, in this view, comes from two parts working together: expectancy and value, and the theory says you multiply them to get the level of motivation. Expectancy is your belief about how likely it is that your effort will lead to the desired result—basically your confidence you can succeed. Value is how important or desirable the outcome is to you—the payoff you care about. When you genuinely expect to succeed and you also value the outcome, motivation becomes strong because the combination makes the effort feel worth it. If either part is low, motivation drops. For example, if you think you can’t succeed even with effort, or you don’t care much about the result, you’re less motivated. If either expectancy or value is zero, motivation falls to zero. This framework helps explain why some situations spark steady effort while others don’t, beyond just fear or novelty. It isn’t about being aroused by something new, nor about merely comparing yourself to others; it’s about the core mix of how likely you think success is and how much you care about the goal.

Motivation, in this view, comes from two parts working together: expectancy and value, and the theory says you multiply them to get the level of motivation. Expectancy is your belief about how likely it is that your effort will lead to the desired result—basically your confidence you can succeed. Value is how important or desirable the outcome is to you—the payoff you care about.

When you genuinely expect to succeed and you also value the outcome, motivation becomes strong because the combination makes the effort feel worth it. If either part is low, motivation drops. For example, if you think you can’t succeed even with effort, or you don’t care much about the result, you’re less motivated. If either expectancy or value is zero, motivation falls to zero.

This framework helps explain why some situations spark steady effort while others don’t, beyond just fear or novelty. It isn’t about being aroused by something new, nor about merely comparing yourself to others; it’s about the core mix of how likely you think success is and how much you care about the goal.