Calvin’s Motivational Pattern
Amotivation with Calvin
Calvin is clearly unmotivated to learn the material Ms. Wormwood is presenting to the class in the comic to the left He says to Ms. Wormwood "but you can't make me care". It shows that Calvin does not care about learning the material that is being presented and has no motivation to care about it. Ms. Wormwood is also not giving any type of reward to try and extrinsically motivate Calvin.
Intrinsic Motivation with Calvin
In the following comic Calvin has shown interest in learning about something he wants to learn about. In the comic to the right Calvin says "I've been reading up on paleontology...". Calvin was reading about something he was genuinely interested in. After being genuinely interested in a subject Calvin choses (autonomy) to act on those curiosities and starts digging in the second frame.
In both Comic strips for intrinsic motivation Calvin has all three basic needs: Competency. He is able to study successfully (paleontology and snakes). Autonomy. Calvin is allowed to make his own choices of studying paleontology and snakes. And Belonging because he is with his best friend Hobbes he feel like he has community and support.
In this comic to the left, we see Calvin being intrinsically motivated to learn more about snakes. Hobbes even recommends to Calvin getting a book from his mother because they don't know anything about snakes. It's interesting to see when Calvin gets autonomy to learn about his own interests he is very intrinsically motivated to do so. Calvin is showing intrinsic traits like asking himself questions "I wonder how they do that" and making inferences on the snakes actions "I think that's how they smell, but why would they smell with a tongue?". Calvin's curiosity allows him to want to learn more about snakes during his summer vacation.
Extrinsic Motivation with Calvin
Calvin may be sarcastically saying he wants to do his homework instead of going outside. He says that his math homework makes him "happy". However, he understands that he needs to do his homework in order to go outside. He is motivated to do his homework with the reward of going outside and play afterward. Even if Calvin is being sarcastic it might be somewhat what he wants to do because he says "My brain always rejects attiude transplants". It seems to me Calvin wants to change his attitude truly, but has a hard time convincing his brain to do so.
The 4 Subcategories of Extrinsic Motivation
External Regulation with Calvin
In the comic to the right Calvin tells his dad that he would have such better grades if his dad would pay him money. Calvin is using the idea of external regulation as he would do "better" in school and receive better grades if there was some kind of reward for doing so (money in this case). Calvin's father immediately shuts down the idea and tells Calvin he should do it "for your own good.". Calvin's father is trying to give Calvin the autonomy to do it for himself and because Calvin wants to AKA intrinsic motivation not because he is getting a reward for the behavior.
Introjection
In the comic to the right Calvin is also using introjection. Calvin sets realistic expectations of himself, so when he does get a C on his paper he is happy with himself. Calvin is saving himself the embarrassment of the getting a bad grade and telling his classmate. He allows himself to feel pride and fulfillment of his C while his other classmate received an A.
Calvin is using introjection in the comic to the left. He is telling his classmate that his half of the project makes theirs look "pathetic". When in reality Calvin hasn't even started his half of the project. He is protecting his ego, pride, and what his classmate thinks of him and by hiding the fact that he hasn't started. Calvin will be slightly motivated to work on his project to make it look "better" than his classmates half of the project.
Identification
Calvin is identifying that this homework is important (because of the pills). However, he is still diligently working at his homework. Hobbes is visually impressed and even goes to tell Calvin "You're working on your report already". Which comes as a surprise as Calvin is normally goofing off or figuring out ways to not do his homework. Hobbes even recommends to Calvin a distraction of some sort by asking to go outside because it is snowing out. Calvin then replies as he wasn't listening to Hobbes request to go outside. He then says "I really have to finish this." Then again identifying this piece of homework is important for him to finish. Calvin has the motivation to finish his book report by identifying the importance of the book report without using any sort of reward other than the outcome of finishing.
Integration
In the comic above Calvin shows understanding that assignment is important to him and his "academia". Even though it may be sarcastic he does understand that it's important. He writes about the book report because he is passionate to get his ideas of "weak ideas, obscure poor reasoning, and inhibit clarity." down on paper. He even goes as far as saying "with a little practice" implying that he tried before and kept trying till he got his finished book report done. Calvin starts to understand his own understanding and does not need reward to finish it. Calvin has the autonomy of "I enjoy them now" because he is free to write about what he wants even if its not what Ms. Wormwood expects he was still able to write his book report.
Calvin tends to mock his own autonomy in the classroom. This apparent in the comic strip to the left. Calvin is acting as a robot when Ms. Wormwood calls on him to demonstrate the problem on the board. He is talking like he is a robot who is programed to "obey" all orders from Ms. Wormwood. It is most apparent when he says "I have no will of my own".