Theories of Motivation

   

  There are several theories about where motivation comes from.  First is the instinct theory which believes that people are motivated because of their biological makeup.  Motivation is first seen in babies when they cry to be fed.  Another theory about motivation is called the drive reduction theory which states that "internal biological needs" make people seek what they want such as food or sleep.  Another theory is called the arousal theory which states that people do things in order to feel comfortable when it comes to physical and psychological areas of their lives.  For example, someone might run on a regular basis because it satisfies his or her physical needs.  The next theory is referred to as psychoanalytical theory.  In this theory people do things that help them survive or prevent their demise.  For example, people eat because they want to survive.  This theory comes from Freud’s psychoanalytical theory.  The last theory about motivation is humanistic theory.  The humanistic theory means that people want to achieve as much as possible unless obstacles are in their way.  An example of this theory would be someone who wants to go to college but cannot because he or she has no money to pay for tuition (Heffner, 2004).

     Maslow's Hierarchy of needs is a humanistic view of motivation.  Maslow believed there were five levels of human needs including physiological needs, safety needs, needs of love, affection, and belongingness, need for esteem, and needs for self actualization.   The first level of needs is the physiological needs which would be a person’s basic biological needs such as food, water, and shelter.  Once these needs are met, then a person can move to the next level which is safety needs.  Safety needs include the sense of feeling safe and protected in our environment.  If someone's safety needs are met, then a person can move to the next level which is needs of love, affection, and belongingness.  This level includes the needs of inclusiveness and being part of a social structure.  If a person's needs are met on this level, then the next level is need for self esteem.   This level includes a person feeling accepted and respected by others.  The last level is self actualization in which a person becomes what he or she was meant to be such as a teacher or chef.  Maslow believed that people are motivated to achieve needs in each level and when the needs were met on a particular level, one would move to the next level of needs (Simons, Irwin, & Drinnien, 1987).

Heffner, C. (2004). Motivation and emotion. Informally published manuscript, Department of Psychology, AllPsych Online, Florida. Retrieved from http://allpsych.com/psychology101/motivation.html

Simons, J., Irwin, D., & LastDrinnien, B. (1987). Psychology-the search for understanding. Retrieved from http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/maslow.htm