You're making a rather sweeping statement based on the opinion of a single professor. A quick Google Scholar search will show you that the vast majority of research on motivation still shows that intrinsic motivation very much exists. It's just our definitions of extrinsic vs. intrinsic and the recognition of how the two interact that are changing slightly. See, for example, [1][2][3].

[1] http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361476X99...

[2] http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/amp/55/1/68/

[3] http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/bul/125/6/627/

Thanks for the link. This theory seems relevant to my own work and motivation.

> A child playing baseball may be satisfying his need for physical exercise, while the professional player is satisfying his parental instinct by providing a good income for his family.

> For children and professionals, baseball is a means to two different ends.

When other people start setting goals for me (and I buy into them), I'm apt to lose motivation, even if the nature of my work remains unchanged. Perspective can be a very powerful tool. I appreciate the nuance provided by this "16 basic desires" theory.

https://explorable.com/16-basic-desires-theory