Theories of Motivation.

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THEORIES OF MOTIVATION

OUTLINE:

1. Introduction

2. Atkinson's need-achievement theory

3. Schacter's cognitive arousal theory

4. Festinger's cognitive dissonance theory

5. Conclusion

I - INTRODUCTION

The contemporary literature concerned with the human motivation processes can be described as a collection of "miniature theories", each concerned with understanding and predicting behavior under a very limited set of conditions. This approach is contrasted with the global efforts of early personality theorists like Freud and Murray who attempted to develop more general theories of human motivation. The trend toward the miniature theory in this area can be understood as an attempt to develop theoretical concepts more precisely defined and testable than those provided by traditional personality theory.

II - ATKINSON'S NEED-ACHIEVEMENT THEORY

Atkinson borrows the concept of need-achievement motivation from Murray's (1938) personality theory and proceeds to develop a theory around this concept. Atkinson suggests that the tendency to approach any situation is a function of 2 factors - hope for success (Ts) and fear of failure (Taf).

* Ts

It is basically an approach or positive source of motivation. Atkinson defines Ts as follows: Ts = Ms x Ps