A two-factor model of achievement motivation

Cassidy and Lynn (1989) synthesized an achievement motivation measure based on earlier scales. Their final measure assessed seven facets of motivation: Acquisitiveness for material wealth, Dominance, Competitiveness, Status Aspiration, Pursuit of Excellence, Work Ethic, and Mastery. Others (e.g., Sansone & Harackiewicz, 2000) have found that people are driven by two general motivational forces: intrinsic motivation is performing an activity for the pleasure inherent in the activity, whereas extrinsic motivation is driven by external factors. We hypothesized that Cassidy and Lynn’s seven measures would cluster around intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.