EPISODE · Mar 24, 2026 · 1H 15M
The Science of Motivation and Doing What You Should | Dr. Tom Zimmer
from Chris Stefanick Catholic Show · host Chris Stefanick | Real Life Catholic
Why can't you get yourself to do the things you know you should be doing? It's not a willpower problem. It's a motivation problem—and there's a science behind fixing it. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tom Zimmer, a PhD researcher specializing in the science of motivation and a professor at Wyoming Catholic College. Tom has spent years studying why people do what they do—and more importantly, how to change it. We go deep on the stuff that actually matters: how to motivate your kids to love the faith instead of just enduring it, why "good job" is killing your child's growth, the hidden reason boys are retreating into video games, and how the same motivational principles that apply to kayaking and skiing apply to your prayer life and your Lenten sacrifices. I'm already thinking about how I can talk to my own kids differently. There's a reason some kids grow up loving what their parents love—and it's not luck. Tom breaks it all down with practical tools you can start using today. Highlights0:03:00 — Why the real problem isn't willpower0:06:30 — Motivating his 8-year-old daughter to nail a kayak roll0:19:30 — The problem with extrinsic rewards0:43:25 — Why Dads need to visibly live their faith1:01:00 — Why "good job" doesn't build self-efficacy1:04:55 — Flow theory1:09:45 — Why video games are engineered to exploit Wyoming Catholic College: www.wyomingcatholiccollege.com Read Dr. Tom Zimmer's thesis: https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=1422680 ........ Sign up for The Daily Anchor to get Chris Stefanick's bite-sized reflections every morning: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to 9 transformative courses: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ........ Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages Chapters (00:00:00) - The Science of Motivation(00:00:51) - Chris Stefanik(00:01:33) - Interviewing Dr. Tom Zimmer(00:02:59) - In the Land of Motivation(00:05:41) - Behaviorism in Children(00:09:45) - How to Deal with a 14 Year Old's Behaviorism(00:12:16) - Christian Parents on Behaviorism(00:15:35) - Start with extrinsic motivation and get rid of behaviorism(00:18:09) - MISSIONARY OF JOY(00:22:38) - The 7 theories of Motivation(00:24:16) - Self-Destiny and Motivation(00:27:32) - The Importance of Perceived Autonomy(00:30:06) - Motivation in the Catholic Church(00:34:40) - Learn more about the Catholic faith(00:38:53) - How To Talk To Your Child About Skiing(00:42:29) - Justin Schneer: Expectation and Value Theory(00:45:34) - How To Motivate Your Kids(00:49:09) - Building Competence in the Church(00:52:00) - Reasons for rewarding and punishing behavior(00:53:19) - Give Your Kids Perceived Autonomy(00:55:59) - Self-Advocacy and Self-(01:00:47) - Self-efficacy 3, The Good Job(01:03:22) - Understanding the Process of Flow(01:06:56) - Lent: Too Hard a Sacrifice(01:09:20) - Crisis in Motivation and Culture(01:13:23) - A message from the Challenge
What this episode covers
Why can't you get yourself to do the things you know you should be doing? It's not a willpower problem. It's a motivation problem—and there's a science behind fixing it. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tom Zimmer, a PhD researcher specializing in the science of motivation and a professor at Wyoming Catholic College. Tom has spent years studying why people do what they do—and more importantly, how to change it. We go deep on the stuff that actually matters: how to motivate your kids to love the faith instead of just enduring it, why "good job" is killing your child's growth, the hidden reason boys are retreating into video games, and how the same motivational principles that apply to kayaking and skiing apply to your prayer life and your Lenten sacrifices. I'm already thinking about how I can talk to my own kids differently. There's a reason some kids grow up loving what their parents love—and it's not luck. Tom breaks it all down with practical tools you can start using today. Highlights0:03:00 — Why the real problem isn't willpower0:06:30 — Motivating his 8-year-old daughter to nail a kayak roll0:19:30 — The problem with extrinsic rewards0:43:25 — Why Dads need to visibly live their faith1:01:00 — Why "good job" doesn't build self-efficacy1:04:55 — Flow theory1:09:45 — Why video games are engineered to exploit Wyoming Catholic College: www.wyomingcatholiccollege.com Read Dr. Tom Zimmer's thesis: https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=1422680 ........ Sign up for The Daily Anchor to get Chris Stefanick's bite-sized reflections every morning: https://bit.ly/4tQCXtP ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to 9 transformative courses: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ........ Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages
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The Science of Motivation and Doing What You Should | Dr. Tom Zimmer
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