Theories of Motivation

1. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Humans are motivated by a progression of needs from physiological to safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization.

2. McClelland’s Need for Achievement Theory

Motivation arises from three learned needs: achievement, power, and affiliation.

3. Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory

Job satisfaction and dissatisfaction stem from two different sets of factors: hygiene factors and motivators.

4. Alderfer’s ERG Theory

Condenses Maslow’s hierarchy into three core needs: existence, relatedness, and growth.

5. Self-Determination Theory (SDT)

Motivation depends on fulfilling basic psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

6. Goal-Setting Theory

Clear, specific, and challenging goals improve motivation, especially when combined with feedback.

7. Equity Theory

People stay motivated when they perceive fairness in comparison to others in terms of input–output ratios.

8. Reinforcement Theory

Behavior is motivated by consequences; positive reinforcement strengthens desired actions.

9. Drive Reduction Theory

Internal drives (like hunger or thirst) create tension that motivates behavior to reduce discomfort.

10. Incentive Theory

External rewards or incentives motivate behavior more than internal states alone.

11. Cognitive Evaluation Theory

External rewards can reduce intrinsic motivation if they undermine autonomy or personal control.

12. Behavioral Activation Theory

Motivation emerges from engaging in rewarding behaviors that increase positive reinforcement over time.

13. Flow Theory (Csikszentmihalyi)

People are most motivated when fully absorbed in an activity that matches challenge with skill, creating a “flow” state.