People start reading for a variety of motivations, including a teacher’s suggestion, a friend’s recommendation, or self-improvement. Psychologist Schutz’s “because motivation” (driven by responsibility or external demands) and “for the sake of motivation” (driven by internal interest and goal orientation) play an important role in the initiation and continuation of reading behavior.
There are many different motivations that drive us to read, such as a teacher’s suggestion, a friend’s recommendation, or self-improvement. Some people read to satisfy their intellectual curiosity, while others read to relieve stress or take a break from their daily routine. These motivations can vary from person to person, and they are important forces that drive us to start and continue reading. Reading motivation is defined as “the force that drives and sustains reading,” which includes two aspects: initiating and sustaining reading. Motivation to read is closely tied to a variety of factors, including personal experience, surroundings, and social influences. These motivations can be categorized into two types, which Schutz describes as “because motivation” and “for the sake of motivation”.
The “because motivation” of reading refers to the reason for the reading behavior. It corresponds to an event or experience that has already occurred at some point prior to the reading behavior. For example, if a student reads a book assigned for homework at school, the homework is the “because” that triggered the reading behavior. The “for” of reading also refers to the purpose of the reading behavior. Since the purpose is achieved as a result of the reading behavior, it is in the nature of an expectation or prediction of a state of affairs at a point in time after reading, with the possibility of not achieving it. For example, if you read a book because a friend gave it to you as a gift, receiving the book as a gift is the “because” of this reading behavior. If you set a goal to read a book and have a conversation with a friend about it, that’s an “in order to” motivation. In addition, feeling fulfilled or moved by the act of reading, not disappointing a friend by reading a book that was given as a gift, etc. are expected outcomes of the act of reading, so they are also ‘for the sake of’ motivation.
The types of reading motivations are useful for understanding and analyzing different reading activities. For example, people who read materials related to their studies or jobs are often motivated by “because” motivation. On the other hand, people who read books about their hobbies or interests may rely more on the “in order to” motivation. Reading motivation can also vary by age, gender, occupation, and cultural background. For children and teens, parental or teacher encouragement can be an important “because motivation,” while adults are often motivated by “for the sake of” reading for self-improvement or leisure.
These concepts of motivation help explain how reading habits are formed. The key to a successful reading experience is experiencing pleasure and benefit from the act of reading, which leads to a desire to read more, which leads to new reading behaviors. The pleasure and benefit of reading is a “because motivation” in that it provides a reason for new reading behaviors. At the same time, the new reading behavior becomes a “for the sake of” motivation that makes you want to experience it again. Through this virtuous cycle, reading habits are naturally formed as reading experiences are repeated and deepened.
In order to form a reading habit, it is important to utilize both the “because motivation” and “for the sake of motivation” appropriately. First, you need to create a “because motivation” by creating an environment that triggers you to start reading. For example, setting up a reading nook in your home or joining a book club can help strengthen your ‘because’ motivation. It’s also important to stimulate the “for the sake of” motivation by setting goals that will give you a sense of accomplishment after reading. You should aim for the knowledge, inspiration, or enjoyment you get from reading to keep you reading.
Therefore, to form a reading habit, it is important to start reading based on both the ‘because motivation’ and ‘for the sake of motivation’ and to continue reading based on successful reading experiences. In this way, reading will become a part of your daily routine and the positive impact of reading will grow. Understanding and utilizing reading motivation is an important factor in enriching reading activities.
