Theories of Motivation

Instinct—motives are innate* Drive—biological needs as motivation* Incentive—extrinsic things push or pull behavior* Arousal—people are motivated to maintain optimum level of arousal Self-Determination - Extrinsic/Intrinsic Motivation* Humanistic—hierarchy of needs* Socio-cultural……… Competence - demonstrating competence and exercising control in a situation Achievement – directed toward excelling, succeeding, or outperforming others at some task

Instinct Theory  A complex, inherited, unlearned behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species - initial motivational theory  William James listed 37 instincts.  Instinct theories merely describe and label behaviors rather than actually explaining them.  A complex, inherited, unlearned behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species - initial motivational theory  William James listed 37 instincts.  Instinct theories merely describe and label behaviors rather than actually explaining them.

James’ Instincts

Drives  Organism feels tension created by imbalances  “Pushes” an organism to restore the balance, typically reducing the drive and restoring homeostasis  Part of drive-reduction theory  Organism feels tension created by imbalances  “Pushes” an organism to restore the balance, typically reducing the drive and restoring homeostasis  Part of drive-reduction theory

Drive-Reduction Theory

Incentive Theory Behavior motivated by the “pull” of external goals, such as rewards, money and recognition. Drew heavily from well-established learning principles, such as reinforcement, and the work of learning theorists, such as Pavlov, Watson, and Skinner Behavior motivated by the “pull” of external goals, such as rewards, money and recognition. Drew heavily from well-established learning principles, such as reinforcement, and the work of learning theorists, such as Pavlov, Watson, and Skinner

Extrinsic Motivation  A desire to perform a behavior because of promised rewards or threats of punishment  What things are you extrinsically motivated to do?  A desire to perform a behavior because of promised rewards or threats of punishment  What things are you extrinsically motivated to do?

Intrinsic Motivation A desire to perform a behavior for its own sake and to be effective

Maslow’s Philosophy n To understand humans, you must understand their highest aspirations. (top of pyramid) n Human values are intrinsically good & desirable. - Definition of Humanism n Self-actualizing people can live more freely in the realm of being.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Physical Needs

Physiological Needs Needs for food, water, air, etc. These are the most “essential” needs One function of civilization is to satisfy these needs so we can focus on the higher ones Behavioral research usually studies at this level

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Safety Physical Needs

Safety Needs Needs for safety, order, security, etc. Focused on after physiological needs met Most commonly seen in children Seen in some adult mental disorders (e.g., Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Dependent Personality Disorder)….Need not met?

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Safety Belonging Physical Needs

Belongingness & Love Needs The need for affiliation, for friends, supportive family, group identification, intimate relationships This level and higher ones often not satisfied even in affluent countries These needs being unfulfilled at the root of many mental disturbances (depression, Borderline Personality Disorder) Need to receive and to give love The need for affiliation, for friends, supportive family, group identification, intimate relationships This level and higher ones often not satisfied even in affluent countries These needs being unfulfilled at the root of many mental disturbances (depression, Borderline Personality Disorder) Need to receive and to give love

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Safety Belonging Self - Esteem Physical Needs

Esteem Needs F Need to be held in high regard by self and others (not just “self-esteem”) F comes from mastery, achievement, adequacy, feelings of competence, confidence, independence F Ideally this need met by the deserved respect of others F Need to be held in high regard by self and others (not just “self-esteem”) F comes from mastery, achievement, adequacy, feelings of competence, confidence, independence F Ideally this need met by the deserved respect of others

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Safety Belonging Self - Esteem Self - Actualization Physical Needs

Self-Actualization Needs  A person must actualize, that is make real, what exists inside them as a potential  Most other theorists wouldn’t see this as a need  Freud would predict people would stop at lower needs  Even Adler might predict stopping at esteem needs  A person must actualize, that is make real, what exists inside them as a potential  Most other theorists wouldn’t see this as a need  Freud would predict people would stop at lower needs  Even Adler might predict stopping at esteem needs

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Aesthetic Safety Belonging Self - Esteem Self - Actualization Physical Needs

Aesthetic Needs Needs for order, symmetry, closure These needs seen universally in children Seen in all cultures Relationship to the other needs unclear

MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS Self Actualizing Needs Esteem Needs Love and Belonging Needs Safety Needs consistency and predictability physical safety Physiological Needs DEPRIVATIONDEPRIVATION BEINGBEING Aesthetic intellectual

NEEDS DEPRIVATION The LESS a need is deprived when it first emerges, the BETTER a person is able to tolerate a subsequent deprivation of that need. If you want people to be able to tolerate danger, be certain they always feel safe. THEREFORE If you want people to be able to tolerate food deprivation, be certain that they never are hungry

Following this logic, we can conclude: If you want people to be able to tolerate frustration, don’t frustrate them. If you want people to be able to tolerate humiliation, don’t humiliate them. If you want people to be able to tolerate failure, be certain they succeed often. If you want people to be able to tolerate humiliation, be certain you are constantly supportive of and caring toward them.

Maslow’s (Humanistic) Assumptions 1. What is the relationship between learning and development? People learn best when their developmental needs are met. (why it is not cognitive) 2. How do people change? By having their needs met. 4.What motivates people? Internal needs. This is at the heart of the theory.

1. How important is behavior? One knows nothing from behavior. We have to understand the underlying need that motivated the behavior. A given stage can give rise to many different behaviors. Likewise, a given behavior can be indicative of many different stages. 2. How important is thinking? Maslow's theory deals with emotions, not cognition. But he does strongly maintain that proper emotional development is crucial to curiosity and to creative thinking. 3. How important are emotions? All important. Emotional well being is the key to thinking and to proper learning.

HIERARCHY and SEQUENCE What Is a Hierarchy? You must successfully complete (resolve, equilibrate one stage before you go to the next.) How Is Hierarchy Related To Sequence? All hierarchical theories are sequential, but not all sequential theories are hierarchical.

Rogers and Humanism A closing thought! “In a psychological climate which is nurturant of growth and choice, I have never known an individual to choose the cruel or destructive path….it is cultural influences which are the major factor in our evil behaviors.”

Cognitive Explanations: Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation