Chapter 20

Needs and Motivations 

A person running with arrows pointing to the same needs AI-generated content may be incorrect. 

All behavior results from Needs. Needs are the forces that energize not only our will to survive but also our search for meaning in life. Abraham Maslow’s model of the Hierarchy of Needs argues that at the most fundamental level, we are driven by physiological needs: food, water, shelter, sleep, and safety. Without these, we would perish. Further, he claimed that until these basic needs are met, higher-level aspirations are ignored. Of course, we are all familiar with situations where this is not the case. Individuals ignore these survival needs for the sake of their families or for spiritual beliefs. As we discussed at the outset of this book, all models are imperfect, but they are instructive. Higher up Maslow’s pyramid, we have the need for love and belonging, esteem, and what Maslow calls self-actualization - the drive to be creative, knowledgeable, and purposeful. In other words, to reach our potential.

 We will discuss the dynamics of social relations in Part IV. Suffice it to say, our need for belonging drives people to form families, friendships, and communities. Isolation causes distress, while strong relationships foster health and longevity. But we don’t just need to belong, we need to feel recognized, respected, and valued. This need fuels achievement, competition, and self-confidence. At best, it leads to mastery and growth; at its worst, it can breed insecurity and vanity.

Some theorists say we have a need beyond self-actualization. They claim humans may have the need for self-transcendence. That is, a need to serve, have a spiritual life, and promote justice for humanity. This argument returns us to our earlier discussion of humans’ capacity for altruism and sacrifice.

 You may notice a correlation between Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Eric Erickson’s model of childhood development. In Erickson’s model, as children mature, they pass through various stages of growth – Trust, Autonomy, Initiative, Industry, and Identity. If, along the way, they experience trauma, their growth may be stymied and the stages might be characterized by Mistrust, Shame and Doubt, Guilt, Inferiority, and Role Confusion. In much the same way, genetic and environmental factors might prevent individuals from reaching higher levels on Maslow’s pyramid. The similarities between Maslow’s and Erickson’s models, then, is that each has an upward, evolving characteristic that can be stymied by various life stressors.

 What about Motivations? Whereas needs align with necessities, motivations initiate and sustain our behavior. Values can act as our compass. Need is the gas. Motivation is the accelerator that turns that fuel into movement toward a destination.  Need is a state of imbalance. Motivation is the drive to reduce the tension that the imbalance creates.

Motivational states are often characterized by:

  • Direction - which goal or objective one pursues
  • Intensity - how much energy or effort one invests
  • Persistence - how long one maintains the effort toward a goal

These three aspects help explain the difference between motivations that propel us to overcome any object to obtain our goal or motivations so weak we simply shrug our shoulders and walk away from a task.

Here are some different types and sources of Motivation:

  •    Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation
    • The former arises from doing an activity for its own sake like curiosity or enjoyment.
    • The latter comes from external rewards or pressures like money or praise or grades.
  •   Biological/Physiological Motivation
    • Motivations that stem from bodily needs like hunger, thirst, sleep or sex.
  •   Conscious vs. Unconscious Motivations
    • Some motives are deliberate and known; others may operate out of awareness. Freudian Psychoanalysis digs deeply into the second type.
  •   Moral Motivations
    • This is the focus of most world religions.

 The motivational process may be seen in two phases:

  • Goal-setting; deliberation followed by choosing a direction
  • Goal-striving; maintaining the pursuit toward the goal

 The waxing and waning of Motivations can be influenced by factors such as competition between motivations, shifting priorities, external obstacles, fatigue and mood.

 Finally (for this consideration) motivation is a major factor in the following pursuits:

  • Education and learning – Great teachers know how best to motivate their students
  • Work and Performance – Effective managers realize money is often less of a motivator than other environmental factors that can be controlled
  • Health and Behavior – Areas like exercise, dieting, and smoke cessation respond to the right motivations
  • Economic and Consumer Behavior – Businesses ignore consumer motivations at their peril
  • Personal Development and Psychology – The better we understand our own motivations, the more control we have of our lives

 Before we move to an exploration of Emotions, let’s take a brief look at the topics of Pleasure and Happiness. They are not distinct parts of the Human Nature Process model, yet exert influence on several elements that do appear.

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