What term refers to the psychological feature that induces an organism to act toward a desired goal, often described as the desire to do?

• A. Motivation
• B. Aspiration
• C. Habit
• D. Incentive

Answer: (A)

Motivation is the driving force behind behavior—the internal or external push that starts and sustains goal-directed actions. When we say there’s a “desire to do,” we’re describing that motivational pull that gets someone moving toward a goal, lowers hesitation, and keeps them going until the goal is achieved.

Aspiration is more about the hoped-for outcome or ambition itself, not the active push to act in the moment. Habit describes a behavior that has become automatic through repetition, not necessarily driven by current desire. Incentive refers to something that can prompt or reward action, but it’s external and can influence motivation rather than define the underlying drive itself. Therefore, motivation best fits the idea of the psychological feature that induces action toward a desired goal.