Hidi & Renninger’s Stages of Interest

Introduction:
In 2006, Suzanne Hihi and K. Anne Renninger sought to organize motivation in stages, considering the mindset and attitude of a person with their activity. They came up with the 4 Stages of Interest, which we will summarize in this article.

Stages of Interest:
Motivation doesn’t usually start strong — even after a burst in inspiration, it still steadily grows in stages. These stages are categorized by attitude:

1. Triggered Situational Interest

• Effort is fleeting or inconsistent
• Effort requires external support to maintain (by means of groups or instruction)
• No guaranteed negative or positive view on activity (neutral)
• No consistent valuing of experience

2. Maintained Situational Interest

• Intentional re-engaging of content that attracts attention
• Connections between skills and identity are formed with external support
• Positive view on activity
• Developing value of experience

3. Emerging individual interest

• Independent re-engaging of content
• Self-regulated focus
• Increasing curiosity and quantity of knowledge
• Positive view on activity
• Consistent value of experience but less consistent value of feedback

4. Emerging individual interest

• Independent re-engaging of content
• Self-regulated focus + goals
• Self-regulated question/answer pattern seeking
• Ability to persevere through frustration and challenges
• Recognition of others’ contributions to activity​

Contributed by Adrian Zhang, 02/2026.