The very meaning of the word motivation means “to move.” Defined as the internal factor that induces behavior and gives it a new direction, motivation is an integral part of everyone’s life. Motivation theory described the various processes that talk about the reasons (why, how, what, etc.) that affect and induce behavior patterns in all of us to feel motivated to do something.
Regarded as one of the most important areas of study in the field of organizational behavior, motivation theory falls into two distinct categories: content theories and process theories. Despite the fact that there are various theories of motivation espoused by many psychologists, none of them is universally accepted.
Some of the pioneers in the content theory of motivation, which focuses on the internal factors that drive human behavior, include Abraham Maslow, Alderfer, Herzeberg, and McClelland. Motivation theory such as Maslow’s very famous Hierarchy of Needs, Alderfer’s ERG theory, Herzeberg’s Motivator Hygiene Theory, also known as Herzeberg’s Dual Factors Theory, and Learned Needs or Motivation Theory. of McClelland’s three needs are some of the main ones. happy theories.
Of the aforementioned motivation theories, Maslow’s content theory of the hierarchy of human needs is perhaps the best known and most popular. He speaks of five levels of basic needs, which are classified into physiological needs, safety and security needs, self-esteem needs, love needs, and self-actualization needs.
Similar to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, it is the ERG theory that explains the needs for existence, relatedness, and growth in human beings. While Herzeberg’s dual factors theory talks about specific factors in the workplace that can help in job satisfaction. On the other hand, the Thematic Aptitude Test (TAT), a projective technique as part of McClelland’s learned needs motivation theory, tries to evaluate people and their aptitude based on the three main needs that are: power , affiliation and achievement. It would be safe to conclude that the results of McClelland’s theory of motivation indicate that people who have a higher need for power take actions that tend to influence the behavior of other people and those around them.
A theory of motivation attempts to decode the reasons that motivate people to perform different tasks and be successful at them. While different people have different thinking behaviors, the immediate environment, the person’s background, and other factors are key reasons. Perhaps that is why Maslow’s theory of motivation states that a man’s behavior is controlled and affected by both internal and external factors. This also means that man has the significant ability to make decisions in his life and exercise his free will.
Theories like Adam’s Equity Theory, Vroom’s Expectancy Theory, Goal-Setting Motivation Theory, and Reinforcement Motivation Theory, etc., suggest that when people need something or want something They are motivated to do it. If you want something really bad, your want and need should be enough motivation for you to achieve it!
Any theory of motivation can be applied to a representative sample of people and companies. The underlying principle of every theory is that human beings require their needs to be met. When these needs are met, a certain balance is achieved and the person begins to respond favorably to their immediate environment and the results are more than satisfactory.