Content Theories of Motivation Flashcards
What are content theories of motivation?
People need needs to survive and thrive
Needs motivate us
What is motivation and how does it relate to needs?
a force within or outside of the body that energizes, directs, and sustains human behaviour
when a need is unfulfilled we are motivated to engage in behaviours that will satisfy it
what workplace factors are strong motivators
recognition, advancement, opportunities to learn
what are direction and intensity?
components of motivation
direction = what person wants to achieve
intensity = how hard people work to achieve goal
manifest needs theory of motivation and who created it
NADLER/ MURRAY
assumes human behaviour is driven by desire to satisfy needs
classifies needs between: primary and secondary
primary = physiological needs
secondary = learned needs that are psychological in nature (ex: achievement)
Learned Needs Theory of Motivation
MCCLELLAND (building on Murray)
three needs: nAch, nAff, nPow
Need for achievement
need for affiliation
need for power
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (Motivation Theory)
believed human needs were arranged hierarchically –> before one type of need could manifest itself, others needed to be satisfied
five types of needs
1. physiological
2. safety and security
3. social
4. ego and esteem (locus of control)
5. self actualization
in Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, can self-actualization needs ever be fully satisfied?
no. they are a continuing process of self-development and self-improvemt
Alderfer’s ERG Theory of Motivation
Alderfer compressed Maslow’s five needs into three
- existence
- physiological and material safety needs - relatedness
- social, social safety, and social esteem - growth
- self-esteem and self-actualization
which theory has more support between Alderfer’s and Maslow’s?
Alderfer’s!
What are the four key components to understanding Alderfer’s ERG Theory?
- satisfaction progression
- frustration
- frustration regression
- aspiration
Herzberg’s Motivator-Hygiene Theory of Motivation
refined Maslow’s Theory into two sets of needs:
- motivators related to the jobs we perform
- feel achievement from performing
- rooted in need to experience growth - “hygiene” which is related to the work environment and based on the basic human need to avoid pain
- job conditions that prevent dissatisfaction don’t
cause satisfaction
Self-determination Motivation Theory
seeks to explain the causes of motivation and the effects of extrinsic rewards on intrinsic motivation
as level of extrinsic rewards increase, intrinsic motivation decreases
intrinsic motivation = arises from performing a behaviour in and of itself because it is exciting (HIGHER ORDER NEED)
extrinsic motivation = arises out of performing an action to acquire something that will satisfy a LOWER-ORDER NEED
3 higher order needs as part of the self-determination theory of motivation
- competence
- autonomy
- relatedness
