Caveat Academy course · Grades 8 to 12

Psychology of Motivation

A semester course on why people start, keep going and give up: classic theories, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, self-efficacy and mindsets, goals and habits, procrastination and flow, and how it all plays out at school, at work and in sports. Six modules at your own pace, with a check in every lesson and a certificate at the end.

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$19one-time · every device you sign in on
Buy · $19

Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the Middle school course library, $79 for 28 items.

6 modules · 18 lessonsabout 12 hours$19

Six modules, eighteen lessons

Each module ends with a practice set that tracks mastery, an explain-it-back prompt, a short written response and a module exam. The final opens when every module is proficient; passing it earns a certificate with a verification code.

  1. Module 1: What moves us

    Explain motivation by direction, intensity and persistence and compare drive-reduction, arousal and Maslow's theories, including their criticisms.

    • Defining motivation
    • Early theories
    • Maslow's hierarchy and its critics
    about 2.1 h

  2. Module 2: Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation

    Analyze intrinsic and extrinsic reasons with self-determination theory and predict when rewards will raise or lower motivation.

    • Two kinds of reasons
    • Self-determination theory
    • When rewards backfire
    about 2.1 h

  3. Module 3: Beliefs that drive effort

    Apply expectancy-value theory, the four sources of self-efficacy and attribution dimensions to diagnose low effort.

    • Expectancy and value
    • Self-efficacy
    • Mindsets and explanations
    about 2.1 h

  4. Module 4: Goals and habits

    Design specific goals, if-then plans, WOOP plans and habits that close the gap between intention and action.

    • Setting goals that work
    • Plans that bridge the gap
    • How habits form
    about 2.1 h

  5. Module 5: Procrastination, self-control and flow

    Evaluate causes of procrastination, the evidence on self-control and the conditions for flow, and choose strategies that fit.

    • Why we procrastinate
    • Self-control and delay of gratification
    • Flow and challenge
    about 2.1 h

  6. Module 6: Motivation in real life

    Apply motivation research to school, work and sports and build a personal motivation plan.

    • Motivation at school
    • Motivation at work and in sports
    • Your own motivation plan
    about 2.1 h

Try it before you start

This is how every lesson works: step through a worked example at your own pace, then answer a check and get the reason right away. Nothing here is saved; the course keeps your progress.

Module 4 · Plans that bridge the gap

Worked example: a WOOP for homework

  1. Wish: finish math homework before dinner each school day.

A lesson check from each module

The checks need JavaScript turned on. The course itself works the same way.

What you get

Academics · Middle SchoolAlso for Academics · High School$19 · included with the Academy pass and Whole-school licenses

What you finish with
A finished semester of motivation science: you can explain the classic theories and their limits, predict when rewards help or backfire, diagnose low effort with expectancy, value and self-efficacy, write goals, if-then plans and habits that actually get followed, work through procrastination, and build a personal motivation plan you can use for school, sports or a job. Passing the final earns a Caveat certificate of completion.
Who it is for
Students in grades 8 to 12 curious about psychology or about their own habits, students previewing an AP or high school psychology course, and athletes, musicians and student leaders who want to understand effort; homeschool families who want a complete semester unit. It teaches the research honestly, including findings that did not hold up as strongly as first reported.
Format
An online self-paced course: 6 modules and 18 lessons with worked examples you reveal step by step, 144 practice and exam items (multiple choice, numeric, fill-in and ordering), an explain-it-back prompt and a rubric-checked short response in every module, module exams with one retake, a 24-question final and a certificate with a verification code. About 12 hours in all; works on a phone or a computer.
Access
$19 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the course opens once you are signed in with it. Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Also in the Middle school course library ($79) and the Academics Suite pass ($149), and 1 more bundle. Progress is saved in this browser on this device, and the certificate page lets you download your record.
Where it lives
The Middle School space in Caveat Academics; also listed for the High School space in Caveat Academics (the same course serves the high school Psychology of Motivation title).
Support
Access, a receipt, a refund or a correction to the course: team@caveatacademic.com.

How it works

  1. Open the course and start Module 1. Each lesson takes about 25 to 35 minutes; two or three a week finishes the course in about a semester.
  2. Answer the checks as you read. Every answer shows the reason, and a miss links you back to the lesson that covers it.
  3. Finish each module with its practice set and exam. Proficient on every module opens the final; 70 percent passes it.
  4. Print or download your certificate and record from the certificate page.

Start the course

Sources and accuracy

The lessons are original writing by Caveat Academic Services. Facts were checked against these free, open references, which are also good places to read further.

  1. OpenStax, Psychology 2e, chapter 10, Emotion and Motivation (free, openly licensed): openstax.org
  2. Center for Self-Determination Theory, overview of the theory and research: selfdeterminationtheory.org
  3. American Psychological Association, Psychology topics on motivation and procrastination: apa.org/topics
  4. WOOP, the free mental contrasting method from Gabriele Oettingen's research: woopmylife.org
  5. 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call or text 988 in the U.S.: 988lifeline.org

Psychology of Motivation is a self-paced course from Caveat Academic Services. It follows the sequence of a typical one-semester psychology elective but does not replace a school course or award credit. It is education about psychological research, not therapy or medical advice. A lasting loss of interest in almost everything can be a sign of depression; a trusted adult, a school counselor or a doctor can help, and in a crisis you can call or text 988 in the U.S. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.