Drive
Hardwired characteristics of the brain that correct deficiencies or maintain an internal equilibrium, by producing emotions to energise individuals.
Four-drive theory
- Motivation theory based on individuals’ innate drives to acquire, bond, comprehend, and defend that incorporates both emotions and rationality.
- Set work goals that appeal to employees’ 4 drives → significant contributions to organisational objectives; BUT must be kept in balance as 4 drives may counterbalance each other (bond – collaborate vs acquire – compete → cognitive dissonance).
Drive to…
Acquire
Innate urge to seek, take, and control objects and personal experiences.
“Approach” CA → need for achievement, self-esteem etc.
Bond
Companionship and membership in social groups (social identity theory)
“Approach” → need for belonging and affiliation
Comprehend
Make sense of environment and self
“Approach” → need to know
Defend
Protect ourselves physically, psychologically and socially
“Avoid” → need to fight or flight
Maslow’s Needs Hierarchy Theory
- Motivation theory of needs arranged in a hierarchy, whereby people are motivated to fulfil a higher need as a lower one becomes gratified
- Problem: Each of us have unique needs; not universal.
1) Holistic perspective: Emphasised studying multiple needs together.
2) Humanistic perspective: Recognised that human thoughts (e.g. personal values), not just instincts, influence motivation.
3) Positive perspective: Highlighted a positive view of motivation (pursue progress for self-actualisation) besides a deficiency view.
Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
Motivated to engage in an activity for own sake (directly fulfil needs)
Motivated to engage in an activity for instrumental reasons sake (receive something beyond own control; indirect)
Related to drive to acquire (competence) and drive to comprehend
Pay, cash bonus, achievement certificate
- If extrinsic motivators are unexpected/ lower value than intrinsic motivator/ not contingent on specific behaviour → less likely to undermine intrinsic motivation.
McClelland’s Learned Needs Theory
- Needs can be altered through social influences → needs can be strengthened or weakened through learning (e.g. self-concept formation), reinforcement (e.g. self-concept verification), and social conditions (e.g. social norms and past experiences) → people can be trained to need…
1) Achievement: Accomplish reasonably-challenging goals, desire unambiguous feedback and recognition for their success.
2) Affiliation: Seek approval from others, conform to others’ wishes and expectations, avoid conflict and confrontation.
3) Power: Control their environment, including self and others.
Drives produce emotions (non-conscious CA) when we perceive an AO (goal) → activates cognitive processes to evaluate attractiveness/ averseness of AO → consciously assessing CA (assessed feelings) and forming beliefs about the AO to establish needs → form behavioural intentions (goal-directed behaviour) on direction, intensity and persistence towards goal.
- Need for and decision about the goal is influenced by our social norms, personal values and experiences.
Last changed6 months ago
