Initially, it is critical to recognize the purpose of the availability heuristic. The availability heuristic is a mental shortcut that depends on examples that immediately come to mind when making a decision. During the time that Ryan is deciding where to apply to college, the availability heuristic will supply him with the ideas that come to mind when he is thinking of a college to apply to. If Ryan has recently seen news about a crime committed at a college, he will think that that particular college may not be the best option, because his own experiences have a bigger impact than data. In other words, “...the availability heuristic occurs …show more content…
Intrinsic motivation is when one engages in a certain behavior because it is personally rewarding, their own internal desire. Ryan may choose a certain college out of intrinsic motivation, because perhaps it is a college that he himself finds interesting or of value in his field. However, extrinsic motivation is when one performs a behavior to earn rewards or avoid punishment. For Ryan, this may mean that he chooses a college that his parents want him to go to, or a college where he is rewarded for choosing to apply there. “…the innate needs to feel connected, effective, and agentic as one is exposed to new ideas and exercises new skills.” (Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations: Classic Definitions and New Directions, mmrg.pbworks.com) This explanation works around how one must acquire some type of goal, whether being motivated intrinsically or