What is A Motivation Wave In Behavioral Design?

The Motivation Wave is a concept developed by BJ Fogg, a researcher and behavior scientist at Stanford University. The Motivation Wave is a key component of Fogg’s Tiny Habits framework, which focuses on using small, achievable habits to promote behavior change.

The Motivation Wave describes the natural ebb and flow of motivation that individuals experience over time. According to Fogg, motivation is not a constant state, but rather varies depending on a variety of internal and external factors. For example, an individual might feel highly motivated to start exercising in the morning, but by the end of the day, their motivation may have diminished.

The Motivation Wave is divided into three stages: high, medium, and low motivation. During the high motivation stage, individuals are highly motivated to perform a particular behavior. At this stage, individuals are more likely to initiate new habits and stick to existing ones.

During the medium motivation stage, individuals are still motivated to perform a behavior, but their motivation is lower and they may be more likely to skip or delay the behavior.

Finally, during the low motivation stage, individuals are unlikely to initiate or stick to a behavior, and may require additional support or motivation to do so.

According to Fogg, the goal of the Tiny Habits framework is to help individuals perform a desired behavior during their high motivation stage, so that it becomes a habit that they continue to perform even when their motivation is lower.

In summary, the Motivation Wave is a concept from BJ Fogg’s Tiny Habits framework that describes the natural ebb and flow of motivation that individuals experience over time. By understanding the Motivation Wave and performing desired behaviors during high motivation stages, individuals can develop new habits and promote behavior change.

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