Exploring Early Motivation Theories and Modern Applications

This essay explores the concept of motivation, defining it as the driving force behind human actions, and differentiates between positive and negative motivation. It delves into Maslow's hierarchy of needs, explaining how individuals progress through physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-...Read More

MOTIVATION
Olsson described motivation as the reasons for carrying oneself in a particular way (Olsson, F.
M. 2008). Motivation is the general drive that pushes every human being to do what they want to
do (In Saracho, O. N. 2019). A student will study hard through high school so that they get a
college scholarship. The scholarship is motivation. An employee would try to overdo their
monthly targets to get a monthly bonus. The monthly bonus is motivation. This, therefore, shows
that at one point in our lives we have been driven by the motivation to do whatever we needed to
do. Motivation can either be positive or negative. Positive motivation refers to acting in a manner
that which you will get rewarded in the end whilst negative motivation can be described as acting
in a way that one would evade an undesirable result.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs suggests that the needs of human beings are arranged in order of
importance and that, when one need is fulfilled, it stops being a motivator (Rakowski, N. 2008).
Maslow classified physiological needs as the most basic needs. These refer to food, shelter
clothing, and healthcare. Once physiological needs are fulfilled, one would want to fulfill their
safety needs by ensuring they are safe from physical, mental or emotional harm. Third on this
hierarchy are social needs. This can be attached to the need to belong to either a community, a
family or even finding love. Once social needs are fulfilled, self-esteem becomes a motivator.
One gets an urge to be seen as an honorable member of society, the need to feel important. The
highest need in Maslow's hierarchy is self-actualization, which can be termed as the realization
of one's full potential as a human being (Kriz, J. 2006).

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is still relevant today as humans' needs are never-ending and
everyday living is reduced to a cycle of trying to fulfill one's needs. Class or economic
differences are a good example of how Maslow's hierarchy of needs is applicable. The wealthy
are no longer motivated by the need to fulfill basic needs like food and shelter, neither are they
trying to find a sense of belonging. Instead, they are exploring their skills and talents while trying
to define their truest potential.
We are individuals who continue to grow and develop every day. With Maslow’s hierarchy, he
believes change is internal and only an individual is satisfied by a certain need and until then, it
would always be a motivation. I relate to this theory as it is practical in every sense. If one is
hungry they will need to eat. Before you feed your hunger, all your attention would be drawn
towards finding food, which is your motivation. Once you are full, you tend to move onto
another motivating factor like ensuring you are in a safe environment away from danger.
Meaning, we always have never-ending needs that constantly need to be fulfilled.

References
In Saracho, O. N. (2019). Contemporary perspectives on research on motivation in early
childhood education.
Kriz, J. (2006). Self-actualization. Norderstedt: Books on Demand GmbH.
Olsson, F. M. (2008). New developments in the psychology of motivation. New York: Nova
Science.
Rakowski, N. (2008). Maslow's hierarchy of needs model: The difference between the Chinese
and the Western pyramid on the example of purchasing luxurious products. Norderstedt:
Grin Verla, g.