Maslow's and Alderfer's Motivation Theories Flashcards
Maslow’s Need HIERARCHY theory states that
Needs are to be fulfilled in Hierarchy (Satisfaction Progression).
LOWER LEVEL Needs need to be fulfilled FIRST before moving higher. ⬆️
Maslow’s Need HIERARCHY theory
5 Levels of Human Needs:
Physio, Safety, Social, Self-Esteem, SeIf-Actualization
1) Physiological 🌱
2) Safety / Security 🦺
3) Social (Belongingness) 🫂
4) Self-Esteem (Ego) ⭐
5) SeIf-Actualization 🪴
Maslow’s Need HIERARCHY theory
Physiological needs:
1) Physiological
SURVIVAL needs like water, food, sleep, warmth, exercise
Maslow’s Need HIERARCHY theory
Safety / Security needs:
2) Safety / Security
Physical safety, Economic security, Freedom from threats etc.
Maslow’s Need HIERARCHY theory
Social (Belongingness) needs:
3) Social (Belongingness)
Association, Affiliation, Friendship etc.
Maslow’s Need HIERARCHY theory
Self-Esteem (Ego) needs:
4) Self-Esteem
Need for self-respect, self-esteem and Respect & Recognition from others, Status, Prestige
Maslow’s Need HIERARCHY theory
SeIf-Actualization needs:
5) SeIf-Actualization
Self-fulfillment, Growth, Learning, Challenging projects, Opportunities for Innovation & Creativity
Example of Maslow’s Need Hierarchy theory
1) Physiological needs
hungry or thirsty child cannot be motivated for learning in the class.
2) Safety needs
child must feel that the Classroom is fair, orderly & safe place for learning at all the times
3) Social / Belongingness needs
Children who are not accepted in Groups in the Class would not develop well.
4) Self-Esteem needs
Child wants to become the best dancer in the school.
5) Self-Actualization needs
child can realize that he has the potential to become the best scientist or an actor.
Teacher must be able to recognize the abilities of these students & help them achieve their potential.
Categorizations of Maslow’s Need Hierarchy
1) BPS - Basic, PsyChological & Self-fulfillment needs Self-Actualization is the only Self-fulfillment need. Lower 2 - Social & Self-Esteem are Psychological needs. Lowest 2 - Physiological & Safety are Basic needs. 2) DG - Deficiency & Growth needs Self-Actualization is the only Growth need. Rest 4 are Deficiency needs.
3) ERG - Existence, Relatedness & Growth
Categorization by Alderfer:
Physiological & Safety - Existence
Belongingness - Relatedness
Self-Esteem & Self-Actualization - Growth
Implications of Maslow’s Need Hierarchy theory
Implications at Workplace:
1) Maslow’s hierarchy of needs applied to work situations implies that managers have the responsibility, firstly, to make sure their people’s DEFICIENCY NEEDS are met. Only once the deficiency needs are met, one can go for self-actualization.
2) Secondly, it implies creating a proper climate in which employees can develop their fullest potential. Failures to do so would theoretically increase EMPLOYEE FRUSTRATION and could result in inferior performance, lower job satisfaction, and increased withdrawal from the organization. For example, in this theory job insecurity and the threat of layoffs will block the person from their higher growth needs.
3) A SATISFIED NEED does NOT Motivate a person anymore. Only the Next Higher Order Need motivates him.
5 Criticisms of Maslow’s Motivation theory
Order Only1 Low Wor Spir
1) Wrong ORDER of needs
2) Wrong to assume that ONLY 1 MOTIVE is present AT ANY point of TIME. Some people may be aspiring to fulfill MULTIPLE NEEDS at one point in time.
3) People can also operate on more than 1 need level simultaneously, or may MOVE TO A LOWER LEVEL of needs if their LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE. e.g. During RECESSION, when many jobs were cut, suddenly lower order needs became dominant over higher order needs.
4) The Satisfaction Order of needs has PRIMARY APPLICATION to LOWER LEVEL WORKERS in Developing Countries
5) Hierarchy pyramid is not comprehensive. e.g. people are also motivated by SPIRITUAL needs
Criticism of Maslow’s Motivation theory
Wrong Order of needs:
Self-actualization, Self-esteem, Sex
Wrong Order of needs
a) Fulfilment of LOWER order needs may not be necessary for SELF-ACTUALIZATION need for some people e.g. Mahatma Gandhi
b) SELF-ESTEEM need can be more important than Social needs for some people.
c) According to some critics, Placement of SEX should be along with Social needs rather than Physiological needs due to emotional, familial implications of sex.
Criticism of Maslow’s Motivation theory
The Satisfaction Order of needs has Primary Application to
LOWER LEVEL WORKERS:
The Satisfaction Order of needs has Primary Application to
LOWER LEVEL WORKERS in Developing Countries
where BASIC NEEDS of workers are NOT Satisfied fully.
It might NOT have MUCH RELEVANCE in DEVELOPED COUNTRIES like USA.
Criticism of Maslow’s Motivation theory
Hierarchy pyramid is not comprehensive:
Needs other than those identified by Maslow also motivate people e.g. spiritual needs
Alderfer’s Hierarchy of Motivational Needs
Condenses needs of Maslow’s theory into which Categories?
Condenses 5 Needs of Maslow’s theory into 3 Categories of Needs - ERG
1) Existence
Maslow’s Physiological & Safety needs
2) Relatedness
Maslow’s Social / Belongingness needs
3) Growth
Maslow’s Self-Esteem & Self-Actualization needs
Alderfer’s Hierarchy of Motivational Needs
7 Important Points
3 >1 Conc FR SS DPI
- Alderfer’s theory Condenses Maslow’s theory into 3 CATEGORIES of Needs - ERG
- MORE THAN 1 Levels of Need can cause motivation at the same time
- Hierarchy of needs is based on CONCRETENESS in Alderfer’s theory i.e. Existence needs are the most concrete needs
- FRUSTRATED REGRESSION - FR
If a need remains unsatisfied, the individual becomes frustrated and regresses to satisfying a lower order need better than before. - Satisfaction Strengthening - SS
An already Satisfied need can MAINTAIN SATISFACTION or Strengthen Lower Level needs iteratively. - Alderfer asserts that the order of needs is DIFFERENT PER INDIVIDUAL.
Implication of Alderfer’s theory
Alderfer says that there can be MORE THAN 1 NEEDS ACTIVE at a time
Implication:
1. Alderfer’s model implies that Managers must recognise employees’ MULTIPLE SIMULTANEOUS NEEDS.
2. Focusing exclusively on ONE NEED AT A TIME will NOT effectively MOTIVATE the employee.
3. The FRUSTRATION-REGRESSION principle impacts workplace motivation. e.g. If employees are not provided with growth opportunities, they may regress to relatedness needs and socialize more with coworkers.
4. If these conditions are RECOGNIZED EARLY, steps can be taken to SATISFY the FRUSTRATED needs until the employee is able to pursue Growth again.
Concept of Satisfaction Progression is given by A. Alderfer B. Maslow C. C K Pralhad D. NOTA
Maslow
As per Alderfer, which of the following is True? A. More than one need can be active at a time B. Priority of needs will differ from person to person C. Higher order needs are desired once Lower order needs are fulfilled D. Person who is not able to fulfill his higher order needs will try to strengthen the lower level needs in order to gain satisfaction E. All except C
E. All except C
Maslow’s theory:
C. Higher order needs are desired once Lower order needs are fulfilled
Alderfer’s theory:
A. More than one need can be active at a time
B. Priority of needs will differ from person to person
D. Person who is not able to fulfill his higher order needs will try to strengthen the lower level needs in order to gain satisfaction -> Frustrated Regression
Already satisfied need can maintain satisfaction or strengthen lower level needs iteratively when it fails to gratify high-level needs.
This is called?
Satisfaction-strengthening
