“What's Everybody So Excited About?”: The Effects of Teacher Enthusiasm on Student Intrinsic Motivation and Vitality

TLDR

Research on teacher behaviors that actively promote student intrinsic motivation is scarce, and the authors speculate on mechanisms and limitations of teacher enthusiasm’s positive effects. The article reports two studies examining how teacher enthusiasm influences students’ intrinsic motivation and psychological vitality. Study 1 surveyed 93 college students on intrinsic motivation, vitality, teacher enthusiasm, and other positive behaviors, while Study 2 experimentally manipulated high versus low teacher enthusiasm with 60 students. Teacher enthusiasm emerged as the strongest unique predictor of students’ intrinsic motivation and vitality, with students exposed to enthusiastic lectures reporting higher motivation and vitality.

Abstract

Abstract Research on teacher behaviors that actively promote student intrinsic motivation to learn has been relatively scarce. In this article, 2 studies exploring the effects of teacher enthusiasm on both students' intrinsic motivation to learn and their pychological vitality are presented (Ryan & Frederick, 1997). In Study 1, a questionnaire including measures of intrinsic motivation, vitality, teacher enthusiasm, and numerous other positive teacher behaviors was administered to 93 college students. Among the teacher variables, enthusiasm was the most powerful unique predictor of students' intrinsic motivation and vitality. In Study 2, level of teacher enthusiasm (high vs. low) was manipulated in an experimental design with 60 college students. The students who received an enthusiastically delivered lecture subsequently reported greater intrinsic motivation regarding the lecture material and experienced higher levels of vitality. The authors speculate about possible mechanisms for and limitations to the positive motivational effects of teacher enthusiasm.