Essay on Motivation Theory

Motivation Theories

Motivation can either be intrinsic or extrinsic (Ormond, 2003 pg.1). According to the study, a clear analysis of relevant theories of motivation settles on three important theories. Sigmund Freud’s gives a psychodynamic perspective that human behavior emphasizes the functions that an individual’s unconscious mind play in the establishment of interpersonal relationships and the development of a child at the early stages of life. He goes further to give the three elements of human mind having the ego, Id and the superego (Cherry, 2018 pg.3).

The Humanistic Perspective

A humanistic perspective emerged in the early 1950s which shows that human motivation comes from thoughts and behaviors (Thagard, 2017 pg. 5). Here self-actualization is emphasized as it focuses on healthy living and ignition of personal potential. The most suitable psychological model is the Rescorla-Wagner model which consists of a classical scope that involves an equation describing the strengths of association between unconditioned and conditioned stimuli changes taking place when two are paired.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

With motivational theories, there are those that focus on what initiates motivation and the process theories which focus on how human behavior is motivated. The Maslow-hierarchy of needs was a theory developed by Abraham Maslow in 1943 (Furnham, 2008 pg.4). It categorizes human needs in order from basic psychological needs, safety, love and belonging, esteem and finally self-actualization. It states that when humans satisfy their basic needs, they tend to focus on other needs. After satisfaction of the lower need, it no longer motivates someone.

Alderfer-Existence, Relatedness, and Growth Theory

Alderfer-Existence Relatedness and Growth theory according to Jiang et al. (2008 pg.11754) is a theory focusing on existence (material needs involved in physiological and psychological safety needs) growth (self-development and personal growth and development) and relatedness(significant family relationships). The theory shows that despite individuals satisfying higher needs, they may return to lower needs especially when the higher classified need aren’t consequent.

McClelland-Need for Achievement, Affiliation, and Power

McClelland-Need for achievement, affiliation, and power is a theory that was formulated in the 1960s to describe the three main sources of motivation to humans. According to Arnold (2005 pg.47), humans acquire their motivators in learning over time. He states that the motivators are independent of age and gender. It focuses on the satisfaction of existing needs alone other than the development of other needs. The motivation relies majorly on life experiences and cultural practices. The motivator includes power, affiliation, and achievement. The learned need creates diversity among the learners in the workshop, and they end up characterizing a person’s behavior (Chand, 2015 pg.1).

Enhancing Knowledge of Individual and Group Psychology

To enhance the use of knowledge of individual and group psychology in the workshop, the behavior of individuals is analyzed as it is the only source of trapping their inferred concepts. By organizing activities that will entice targeted characters to take leadership like team building, group leadership, and competitions, it provides a hygienic environment with enough basic needs like food and security (Theories of Motivation, 2018 pg.2). The knowledge of relationship is also enhanced by creating leisure time or interactive sessions, creating a question-answer forum and giving collective assignments or tasks to the participants.

Neuroscience and Arousal

According to neuroscience, individuals take certain actions to balance existing levels of arousal. The arousal theory, therefore, suggests that there are varying levels of arousal for individuals and one need to find personal arousal to maintain it at optimum motivation (Psychestudy, 2018 pg. 12). Personality and the human mind are biological factors directly linked to motivational factors that control reward sensitivity. This is located in the mesolimbic dopamine system. The area can record differences in neurological activities and influences goal-driven behaviors that aim to satisfy arousal.

References

Arnold, H.E., 2005. McClelland for achievement, Affiliation, and Power.Boundless Psychology (2018).

Chand, S., 2015. Motivation Theories: Top 8 Theories of Motivation – Explained!      http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/motivation/motivation-theories-top-8-theories-of- motivation-explained/35377

Cherry, K. 2018. 10 Types of Psychological Theories; How Theories Are Used in Psychology. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-theory-2795970

Jiang, Y., Langley, B., Lubin, F. D., Renthal, W., Wood, M. A., Yasui, D. H., ... & Beckel-Mitchener, A. C. (2008). Epigenetics in the nervous system. Journal of Neuroscience, 28(46), 11753-11759.

Motivational Theories, 2018. https://www.tankonyvtar.hu/hu/tartalom/tamop412A/2011-0023_Psychology/030300.scorml.

Ormond, J.E. 2003. Educational Psychology: Developing Learners (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall. Chapters 11&12

Psychestudy, 2018. Theories of Motivation. https://www.psychestudy.com/general/motivation-emotion/theories-motivation

Thagard, P., 2017. What is a Psychological Theory? Theories should describe causal mechanisms, not just associations.

Theories of Motivation, 2018. Chapter 5 Organizational Behavior.  https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_organizational- behavior-v1.1/s09-theories-of-motivation.html