Motivation and theories of motivation

Arousal Theory 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 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 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 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

Rewards and punishments shape behavior

Examples of incentives

Incentive theory stresses the role of environment

Biological vs. Social Needs

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 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 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 “self-actualization,” 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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