Motivation Theories

Motivation theories seek to explain and predict how and why people do what they do (Slavin, 2006). According to McEwen and Wills (2007), motivational theories are derived from the work of psychologist Abraham Maslow theory of Hierarchy of Needs (McEwen & Wills, 2007). Noted theories of importance to motivation are:

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory(1954): Maslow's theory focuses on humanism and how higher order needs are not dealt with until lower order needs are met( Ormrod, 2008). Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs suggest that individuals have intrinsic needs arranged in order of priority: (Tuckman, 1992, p. 321).

• physiological needs (food, water, sleep),

• safety or security needs (freedom from danger and anxiety),

• love or belonging needs (acceptance by others).

• respect or self-esteem needs (mastery, self-confidence),

• self-actualization need ( ongoing realization of one's potential)(Tuckman, 1992, p. 321).

Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory(1959): Frederick Herzberg applied Maslow's theory to work motivation (Huber, 2006). Herzberg asserts that there are two categories of needs that affect employees motivation and attitude: hygienes and motivators (Huber, 2006).

• Hygienes :(job conditions and work environment) are considered maintenance factors like security, status money, working conditions, interpersonal relationship, supervision and policies and procedures (Huber, 2006, p. 487).

• Motivators: (job satisfaction) growth and development, advancement, increased responsibility, recognition and achievement (Huber, 2006, p. 487).

Attribution Theory (1958): was developed by social psychologists: Fritz Heider, Edward Jones, Keith Davis and Harold Kelly. The attribution theory describes how people view the cause of their behaviors and those of others (Schunk, 1991, p. 245). The attribution theory gives a methodical cognitive view of motivation (Schunk, 1991, p. 264). Ormrod (2008) contends that attribution have considerable amount of influence on people's performance and achievement in classroom settings (Ormrod, 2008, p. 508). Attribution affects:
• Emotional responses to events.

• Impact reinforcement and punishment.

• Self-efficacy and expectancies

• Effort and persistence

• Learning strategies

• Future choices and goals

Social Cognitive Theory ( 1960's): Albert Bandura is credited with developing the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). In Albert Bandura's quest to determine how people learn from each other and the cause and effect of learning the Social Learning Theory (SLT) was renamed the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). The premise of the SCT explains how individual are motivated to learn from each other through social influences, observation, imitation, and modeling others behavior. The SCT explains human behavior and motivation as goal directed behavior through self-efficacy and self-regulation.

References:
 
Huber, D. L. (2006). Leadership and nursing care management (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders.
 
Motivation Theories. Retrieved on April 16, 2010, from http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/a_motivation.htm.
 
Ormrod, J. E. (2008). Human learning (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall.
 
Schunk, D. H. (1991). Learning theories: An educational perspective. New York: Macmillian Publishing Company.
 
Slavin, R. E. ( 2006). Educational psychology theory and practice (8th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
 
Tuckman, B. (1992). Education psychology from theory to application. Orlando: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.