Download Motivation and theories of motivation

Motivation and
theories of motivation
Arousal Theory
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A different explanation for
motivation, known as arousal
theory, focuses on risk-taking
behaviors.
Activities such as river rafting,
skydiving, and bungee jumping
clearly don’t satisfy any survival
need—in fact, many of them
threaten a person’s survival. Still,
people engage in these activities
despite the dangers involved.
Because of this, some
psychologists believe that
motivation is somehow
connected to what they call
“arousal.”
Arousal Theory
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Arousal theory holds that people are
motivated to act in ways that keep
them at their own personal optimal
level of arousal.
Proponents of this theory see
arousal as a physiological
phenomenon that can be measured
by tracking changes in a person’s
brainwaves or heart and muscle
tension.
Some psychologists believe that a
link exists between arousal and
certain personality types. These
people are more susceptible to
boredom than most and
consequently tend to be “sensation
seekers” (Zuckerman, 1979).
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation Theory
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Another theory draws a
distinction between “intrinsic”
and “extrinsic” motivation.
Intrinsic motivation occurs
when you enjoy doing a
certain activity, such as
playing football, painting,
hiking, listening to music, etc.
You don’t expect to receive a
reward as a result of these
activities; you do them just
because you like to.
Extrinsic motivation occurs
when you engage in a certain
activity in order to gain a
reward or avoid a punishment.
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation Theory
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For example, most adults are
extrinsically motivated to go
to work: they don’t
particularly enjoy spending 40
or more hour a week at the
office, but doing so gets them
a reward—a paycheck.
Another example: if your
parents have ever told you at
dinner, “Eat your vegetables
or you won’t get dessert,”
they are providing you with
an extrinsic motivation to
do what they want. Your
reward—dessert!
Incentive Theory
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Rewards and
punishments shape
behavior
Examples of
incentives
Incentive theory
stresses the role of
environment
Biological
vs. Social Needs
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Biological motives usually
relate to bodily needs such
as hunger, thirst, sex, body
temperature, physical
activity, and even
aggression.
Social motives, however, are
much more diverse.
According to researcher K.B.
Madsen (1968, 1973), while
we probably have fewer than
ten biological motives, we
have a multitude of social
motives.
Arranging Needs
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Abraham Maslow, an important
humanist psychologist, believed
that people have many needs that
compete with one another.
For example, you may be very
tired at this moment but your
desire to excel in your psychology
class (achievement) may be
stronger; consequently, you
remain awake and try to pay
attention.
Maslow believed that our motives
are organized hierarchically, and
that we must first satisfy our most
basic biological needs before we
satisfy our social ones.
Maslow’s Pyramid
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Maslow illustrated his theory by
arranging needs in pyramid fashion,
with basic needs like food, water, and
warmth at the bottom. Before we can
progress up the pyramid, we have to
first take care of these basic needs.
The second level of Maslow’s pyramid
contains needs relating to safety,
security, and survival.
After that comes love and esteem
needs, followed by “growth” needs
such as knowledge, understanding,
and aesthetic appreciation.
The highest level of the pyramid
represents what Maslow called “selfactualization,” or the need to fulfill
one’s potential.
Maslow believed that if people couldn’t
fully use all of their talents they would
become frustrated.
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