MOTIVATION

2. What is motivation?
Coming from the Greek word “movere,”
which means to move, motivation
involves the question of why people
behave, think and feel the way they do.

3. What is motivation?
Motivation is having
the desire and
willingness to do
something (e.g.
becoming a
professional; learning
how to ride a bike)

4. What are the characteristics
of a motivated behavior?
Energized to do or engage in an activity;
Directed towards reaching a specific goal;
Sustained and intensified feelings about
reaching that goal.

5. What are the kinds
of motives?
 Basic or Primary Motives
1. Need to adjust to
temperature
2. Need to quench thirst
 Acquired or Secondary
3. Need to satisfy hunger
1. Need to belong
4. Avoidance of pain
2. Need for love
5. Need for sensory
stimulation 3. Need for achievement
6. Need for sex 4. Need to be nurtured
5. Need for safety

8. I. INSTINCT THEORY
William McDougall (1908):
Humans are motivated by a
number of different instincts
(e.g. curiosity, self-assertion).
Instincts—are innate tendencies or
Instincts—
biological forces that determine behavior;
they are assumed to be universal
throughout species.

9. Instincts are now redefined as fixed action
pattern—an innate biological force that
predisposes an organism to behave in a
fixed way in the presence of a specific
environmental condition

10. II. DRIVE-REDUCTION THEORY
Key Components:
– Need—a biological state in which the organism
lacks something essential for survival (e.g.
food, water, oxygen); a deprivation that
energizes the drive to eliminate or reduce the
deprivation.
– Drive—a state of tension produced by need
that motivates the organism to act to reduce
that tension.

11. Why would the organism
want to reduce the tension?
To go back to a state of homeostasis—once
the need is satisfied, the body returns to a
more balanced state or equilibrium.

12. DRIVE-REDUCTION THEORY:
– A need results in a drive, which is a state
of tension, that motivates the organism to
act to reduce the tension and return the
body to homeostasis.

14. III. INCENTIVE THEORY
Incentives—are environmental factors,
Incentives
such as external stimuli, reinforcers or
rewards, that motivate our behavior.
– Examples: grades, recognition, money, fame

15. Because incentives are external, they are
thought of as pulling us to obtain them;
whereas drives are internal, they are
thought of as pushing us to obtain them.
Hence, incentives and drives are the pull
and push of our behavior.

17. IV. COGNITIVE THEORY
Extrinsic motivation—involves
motivation—
engaging in certain behaviors or
activities because of incentives or
external rewards

18. Intrinsic motivation—
involves engaging in
certain behaviors or
activities because the
behaviors themselves are
personally rewarding or
because engaging in
these activities fulfills our
beliefs or expectations.

19. In summary:
The theory of fixed action patterns
(instinct) explains the behavior of animals.
The drive-reduction theory (a pushing
forced) explains our actions to meet
biological or physiological needs.
The incentive theory (a pulling force)
explains why we do things to obtain
external rewards.
The cognitive theory explains that we do
things to satisfy personal beliefs or meet
personal goals.

21. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Abraham Maslow believed that our
needs are arranged in a hierarchy.
We satisfy our biological needs
first before we turn our attention
and energy to fulfilling personal
and social needs.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is
represented by a pyramid and
shows the order in satisfying
biological and social needs.

22. Two Kinds of Needs:
Biological needs—are physiological
requirements that are critical to our survival
and physical well-being.
– Examples: food, water, oxygen, sleep,
avoidance of pain and sex
Social needs—are needs that are acquired
through learning and experience.
– Examples: affiliation, nurturance, play,
dominance, achievement

23. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

24. Maslow’s
Hierarchy of
Needs Self-actualization Higher Order
Needs
Esteem
Social Needs
Lower Order
Needs
Safety Needs
Physiological

25. Level 1. Physiological needs
• Physiological needs—includes food,
water, sleep, sex, etc. necessary for
basic survival.
– Examples: People who are homeless
would be especially concerned with
satisfying their physiological needs.

26. Level 2. Safety and security needs
• Safety and security needs—the need
for protection from harm.
– Examples: People who live in dangerous
communities will be concerned about
satisfying their safety needs.

27. Level 3. Love and belongingness needs
• Love and belongingness needs—the
need for affiliation and acceptance by
others.
– Examples: Adolescents and young adults
who are beginning to form serious
relationships would be interested in
satisfying their need for love and
belongingness.

28. Level 4. Esteem needs
• Esteem needs—the need for achievement,
competency, gaining approval and
recognition.
– Examples: During early and middle adulthood,
people are concerned with achieving their
goals and establishing their careers.

29. Level 5. Self-actualization needs
• Self-actualization
needs—the need to
fulfill one’s unique
potential as a human
being; this is the
highest and most
elusive kind of need
and because it is
difficult and
challenging, only a
few individuals are
able to reach this
level.

30. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Applied in Work Setting
Self Actualization Challenging work
Participation in decision making
Esteem Promotions to higher status quo
Recognition from bosses
Friendly co-workers
Social Needs Interaction with customers
Job security
Safety
Safe working conditions
Physiological Reasonable work hours
Physical comfort on the job

31. REFLECTION:
What motivates me most?
• Write a short reflection paper on the things that
motivate you most:
– To achieve
– To love
– To go on with your life
• Rank the following list of values in terms of how
important are they as your guiding principles :
– A comfortable life —An exciting life
– A sense of accomplishment —A world at peace
– A world of beauty —Equality
– Family security —Freedom
– Happiness —Inner harmony
– Mature love —National security
– Pleasure —Salvation
– Self-respect —Social recognition
– True friendship —Wisdom