Starting from everyday phenomena and personal experiences, this book introduces the field of motivation research. The presentation transitions from instinctual and drive-theoretical explanations to the analysis of situational incentives and classical motivational psychology. Current research topics include will processes, risk motivation, and the joyful immersion in activities. Subsequently, the concept of motivational competence is derived. The final chapter discusses methods for measuring motivation. The authors succeed in making typical behaviors and models comprehensible through selected examples. The 9th edition has been updated in content and revised from a didactic perspective.