Maslow's hierarchy is commonly displayed in a pyramid fashion, with the basic needs at the bottom and the higher needs at the top.
Intrinsic motivation is found in people who are influenced by factors that cause a sense of accomplishment and pleasure, while extrinsically motivated people are commonly influenced by factors controlled by others, such as money and praise (Deci & Ryan, 1985). The motivation experienced by humans to fulfill these needs is either derived from internal or external factors. Elaborating further on this theory, Whittington and Evans (2005) stated that "each of these needs operates at all times, although one deficient set dominates the individual at any one time and circumstance" (p.114). Higher-order needs are those associated with social activities, esteem building, and self-actualization or constant self-improvement. The most basic human needs, represented by food, water, shelter, and safety, are considered essential for human existence. The five sets of needs were divided into two categories: basic needs and higher-order needs. Whittington and Evans (2005), referring to that same article, stated that Maslow presented a "prepotent hierarchy in which at least five sets of needs compose the framework" (p.114). In his classic article "A Theory of Human Motivation.” Maslow utilized the term "prepotent" to express the theory that “in the human being who is missing everything in life in an extreme fashion, it is most likely that the major motivation would be the physiological needs rather than any others" (Maslow, 1943, p. In 1943, Abraham Maslow developed one of the earliest theories of human motivation, commonly referred to as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Additionally, he served as the chair of the psychology department at Brandeis University from 1951 to 1969, during which time he became involved with Kurt Goldstein and his theory of self-actualization, which ultimately led to the development of Maslow’s own Hierarchy of Needs theory (Boeree, 1998, 2006). in psychology, Maslow returned to New York where he began teaching at Brooklyn College. After earning his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. It should be said that this early research has been thrown into doubt with more recent primate research in regard to the nature of dominance in monkeys and apes (Cullen, 1997). This was the underlining basis for the beginning of his interest in personal need and motivation (Boeree, 2006). Though the objective was to study attachment and dominance behaviors, Maslow noticed the monkeys’ behavior was driven by different sets of needs. His influence at this time was Alfred Alder, and Maslow followed similar veins in his work (Hoffman, 2008).
While attending UW he began his work in psychology, studying the behaviors of rhesus monkeys with Harry Harlow. After transferring briefly to Cornell, Maslow returned to New York before marrying and moving to the University of Wisconsin. Encouraged by his parents to seek academic success, he began studying law at the City College of New York. Abraham MaslowĪbraham Maslow was born April 1, 1908, the first of seven born to his poorly educated Jewish immigrant parents (Hoffman, 2008).
An introduction of the BNT, or basic needs theory, a mini-theory of self determination theory (SDT Deci and Ryan 1985, 2000), is also included. Alderfer's Existence Related Growth (ERG) Theory, and David McClelland's Need Theory, building off of work by Henry A. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs theory, Clayton P. In specific terms to Industrial/Organizational Psychologists, motivation is defined as "Those psychological processes involved with the arousal, direction, intensity, and persistence of voluntary actions that are goal directed" (Mitchell, 1997 as referenced in PSU WC, 2014, L. In general terms, motivation can be defined as the desire to achieve a goal, combined with the energy, determination and opportunity to achieve it. This also states that human beings are motivated by unsatisfied needs, and typically certain lower needs must be satisfied before higher needs can be satisfied. Needs-based motivation theories stem from the understanding that all motivation comes from an individual's desire to fulfill or achieve a need.