Motivation Influences of Motivation Influences of Dre- Main Character in Dre- Main Character in

Karate Kid 2010Karate Kid 2010

When Dre Parker finds himself going to a new place, the viewer finds the first sign in his de-motivation with his remembrance of his father’s death. Through that the mother character, Sherry Parker, tries to lead positive values and a motivational technique of showing that they are in the quest for a new land and a start of a whole new life.

“Motivation is an inner state that energizes, directs, and sustains behavior.” (JEO, 184) But there are those distinct, familiar things that Dre is finding that he will have to leave behind such

as his friends, and familiar culture.

Once in China Dre shows motivation to fit in and be liked. “It appears that most people of all ages have a fundamental need to feel socially connected and to secure the love and respect of others. In other words, they have a need for relatedness.” (JEO, 189) Being an outsider and culturally different it is more difficult for him.

He also becomes a target for the bullies in the area, these children have a talent that Dre does not and he then starts to value it as being superior and how to keep himself on-top or respected.

He therefore becomes motivated to learn the techniques of Kung-Fu and seeks out a master to

teach him. “Motivated learners are likely to pay attention and engage in meaningful learning-

process that will help them understand and remember the topic at hand (JEO, 192)

His mother tries to give him persistence within his tasks when he finds it difficult and when he doesn't feel like he fits in, as through her quote, ‘We can’t go home, there is nothing left for us in Detroit.” (Sherry, Karate Kid, 2010)

As he trains with his teacher, Mr. Han, he finds that it is interesting and after learning that persistence and quality of work pays off through the repetitive nature of putting his jacket on the hook, he finds that Kung-fu has value other than just to “kick butt”. (Dre, Karate Kid, 2010) As Mr. Han mentions to him on the value of Kung-fu and the learning process, “Kung-fu lives in everything we do… Everything, is Kung-fu.”

“Learners are more likely to initiate and persist in tasks and activities for which they have high self-efficacy” (JEO, 195) The appreciation and value on the learning helps him to achieve enough mastery level of Kung-fu for him to fight well in the arena. It is the knowledge that pulls through the motivation and gives him a creative spark in how to fight his foes and prove himself. This learning and its success and applicability then lead to him concluding his mastery goal. (JEO, 199)

Resources:

 Ormrod, J.E. (2012). Essentials of Educational Psychology: Big Ideas to Guide

Effective Teaching, 3/E. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Ekins, Susan, Sanping Han & Zwart, Harald. (2010). The Karate Kid [Motion

picture]. USA & China. Columbia Pictures, China Film Group & Jerry Weintraub Productions.  

*Pictures from Google Image Search Engine- “Karate Kid 2010”