Abstract: This paper systematic introduced the development of research on intrinsic motivation and its antecedents, discussed the problems on the present research and the direction of future research. Intrinsic motivation is a kind of motivation which origin from the process of work and intrinsic spirit need. Its antecedents mainly include individual’s interests and needs, traits of work task, achievement goal, self-efficacy, empowerment and exchange, extrinsic rewards, etc. The topics which need pay more attention in future research include the construct of intrinsic motivation, moderate and mediate factors, interaction of multi-variables, the multi-model of the mechanism of intrinsic motivation,etc

Key words: intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, achievement goal, extrinsic rewar