Title: 7 Top Motivation Theories in Psychology Explained
Headings: 7 Top Motivation Theories in Psychology Explained
7 Top Motivation Theories in Psychology Explained
What You Will Learn
7 Top Motivation Theories in Psychology Explained
1. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Physiological needs
Safety needs
Love and belongingness needs
Esteem needs
2. Alderfer’s ERG Theory
Existence Needs
Relatedness Needs
Growth Needs
This is key in workplace environments, as when a sense of autonomy is prevented, employees may regress their focus to a sense of security or belongingness their job gives them. This is a key point for employers to know because it suggests that if employees aren’t given growth opportunities, they’re likely to alter their focus to meeting their social needs by spending work hours socializing with colleagues, therefore wasting company money on payroll.
3. McClelland's “Acquired Needs” Human Motivation Theory
Achievement
Affiliation
Power
Pitfalls: Being motivated by power is an important trait for effective managers to have. However, this need can be a destructive factor in professional relationships if it takes the form of using power to only benefit oneself.
4. Vroom’s Theory of Expectancy
Vroom uses three variables in his theory: expectancy, instrumentality, and valence.
Expectancy
Instrumentality
Valence
5. The Hawthorne Effect
Finally, this series of studies suggested that when employees work in groups, they feel a sense of pressure from the group to perform well, which has a positive impact on their motivation to succeed. The results of the Hawthorne Effect improved researchers’ understanding of what motivates people. This research added to other theories because it added in a factor of socialization needs when it comes to influencing people’s motivations and behaviors.
6. Skinner’s Operant Conditioning Theory
7. Locke’s Goal-Setting Theory
Final Thoughts on Motivation Theories

Content: When you can better understand the forces that drive your actions–which can be influenced by your physiology, emotions, cognition, or social factors–you can also understand how to change your path if you can’t seem to get motivated to do the things that you know are important. No individual motivation theory explains every aspect of human behavior, but the theoretical explanations that we will look at in this article can help you develop new approaches to increase your motivation in domains in your life where it may be lacking. Let’s take a look. What You Will Learn
7 Top Motivation Theories in Psychology Explained
1. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
2. Alderfer’s ERG Theory
Existence Needs
Relatedness Needs
Growth Needs
3. McClelland's “Acquired Needs” Human Motivation Theory
Achievement
Affiliation
Power
4. Vroom’s Theory of Expectancy
Expectancy
Instrumentality
Valence
5. The Hawthorne Effect
6. Skinner’s Operant Conditioning Theory
7.