Abstract:
The dissertation holistically examines motivation from an experiential
perspective. Using the lens of creativity and ethnography, it offers a case study of the
motivational characteristics of a textile artist at various periods of her life (as a child, a
high school/college student, and an adult) and in various contexts (cultural and social).
The study describes the influences of culture, society, and experiences that motivate the
textile artist. The analysis of stories that shape the artist’s life reveals the inseparability of
the development of her motivation from the specific circumstances in which it occurs.
The study illustrates that in order to understand the complexity of motivation, it is
important to examine it as it occurs in a specific context. The study also shows the
significance of examining motivation as being something multidirectional and holistic in
nature. The findings suggest that these three elements characterizing motivation—that is,
its dependence on context as well as its holistic and multidirectional nature—should be
considered by educators who wish to motivate their students, and by researchers who
examine motivation. It is also suggested that more case studies of similar design be
conducted in order to determine which characteristics of motivation are unique to an
individual person and which can be generalized. This knowledge would enhance our
understanding of motivation as it occurs in the lives of individuals and in society.
