Motivation Theories

Motivation Theories

MGT/307

June 12, 2010

Adeline Boomgaurd

Motivation Theories

For an individual to achieve all of the achievements they want in life requires motivation. At home, work, and many other places in life, motivation is used to obtain results. Several theories have been developed to determine where motivation comes from and what fuels individuals to reach their goals. Motivation is a very important quality to have and can lead to a prosperous life depending on how much motivation a person have.

In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs method, he states that humans are motivated by unsatisfied needs, and that lower factors need to be satisfied before the higher needs can be satisfied. According to Maslow, there are general needs such as survival, esteem, safety, and love that must be met before a person can act unselfishly. Maslow called these needs “deficiency needs.” He states as long as people are motivated to satisfy these needs, we are moving toward growth, toward self-actualization. In Maslow’s theory he developed a triangle diagram with the bottom portion being the most important of needs to be met. He believed that motivation causes a person to work his way up from the bottom of the pyramid to the top, which is self-actualization.

In the workplace the basic needs are usually met very easily, it is usually law that they be met. For instance employees receive rest periods, lunch breaks, and receive payment to take care of necessities. After these needs are met then a person can move to the next level, which would be security. Security at the workplace would be seniority, pensions, life insurance, and job security. The need for stability and not constantly in fear of well being must be achieved in order to be motivated to move to the next level of the hierarchy. Maslow believed that after an individual gains security the motivation for next need, which is to be social, kicks in. This is shown at work by trying to befriend coworkers,...