Theories of motivation: Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Theories of motivation: Maslow's hierarchy
of needs
Tania Shabir Shaikh
2k18/BEDS/86
Assigned by:
Dr. Amjad Ali Arain

Outline
Motivation
Theories of Motivation
Maslow’s Theory of Motivation
Introduction
Hierarchy of Needs
Demerits of the theory
Educational Implication of the theory

Motivation
A driving force that directs behavior.
A reason for behaving/ acting in a
particular way.
Intrinsic motivation:
self-driven, comes from within the
individual.
Extrinsic motivation:
external agents or factors, comes from

Motivation in
Educational
Setting

Theories of Motivation
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
Alderfer’s ERG Theory.
McClelland's Learned Needs.
Herzberg’s Two Factor Theory.
Adam’s Equity Theory.
Vroom’s Expectancy Theory.
Locke’s Goal Setting Theory.
Reinforcement Theory.

Maslow’s Theory of Hierarchy
of Needs

I.I Introduction
It states that when needs are not
satisfied, the person is motivated.
Satisfaction of one need forces the
next need to emerge.
Five hierarchical levels of human
needs are divided in two categories.

Deficiency Needs:
 Arise due to the deprivation.
 Motivate people when they are not met.
 e.g. the longer a person goes without
food, the more hungry he will become.
Growth Needs:
 Highest level of the pyramid.
 Don’t stem from lack of something but
rather from a desire to grow as a person.

“This is quite true that man lives by
bread alone when there is no bread.
But when bread need is satisfied, new
higher needs emerge and so on. The
basic human needs are organized into
a hierarchy of relative prepotency.”
- Maslow

(i) The Physical Needs
The basic needs that are vital to
survival.
Air, food, water, temperature, sleep,
sex etc.

(ii) The Safety Needs
Safety needs are about keeping us
away from harm.
These needs include shelter, safe
environment, law and order, stability
and freedom from fear.

(iii) Love and Belongingness
Since we are social beings, we can
not live in isolation. Social interaction
is always there.
 includes friendship, intimacy, trust,
acceptance, receiving and giving
affection, respect, and social relations.

(iv) Esteem Needs
Prestige and feeling of
accomplishment.
Esteem needs are related with the
status needs, getting recognition,
dignity, respect, value and importance
from others.

(v) Self-actualization Needs
What a man can be, he must be.
Realizing personal potential, pursue
talents and a desire to become everything
one is capable of becoming.
“self-actualization may be loosely
described as the full use of talents,
capabilities, potentialities etc. such
people seem to be fulfilling themselves
and doing the best that they are capable
of.” -Maslow

Demerits / Shortcomings
“Need” is not a proper/ suitable word
here. Maslow stated in the 1st level of
basic needs as vital to survival. But
people can live without sex and even
without social interaction. Thus these
are not the basic needs for survival.
Maslow also stated that the
satisfaction of one level leads to the
other. Its not necessary. But the levels
can overlap also.

Educational Implication of the
Theory
In classroom setting, effective learning
can occur or students can be
motivated when their needs will be
satisfied.
Physical needs should check either
the learner has taken complete sleep
and food, the temperature of the class
is fine etc. If the learner is hungry or
hasn’t took sleep, he won’t be

Safety needs must be satisfied. The
learning environment must be secure
where the student can feel
comfortable and safe. A classroom
free from fear, either the fear of
teachers or peers, free from being
teased etc. will give way to effective
and appealing learning.

Love and belongingness in the class
includes a good relation between the
teacher and a learner and also
between the classmates.
A teacher should give space to
students to share their views and
ideas. This will give them the feeling
that they are also a part of class, they
belong to this class and are valued by
their teacher. This will motivate them
for learning.

Self-esteem involves the respect of
the students. When a teacher gives
respect to their students, students feel
special and do the tasks of that
teacher happily and willingly.
e.g. sometimes preferring students’
choices, nominating best performer of
the day etc. Thus, to achieve a
prominent status in class, students will
do hard work.

Other Prominent Theories of
Motivation
Alderfer’s ERG Theory
3 essential needs:
(i) Existence that involves physical and
safety needs.
(ii) Relatedness that involves affiliation,
love and belonging needs.
(iii) Growth needs implies esteem and
self-actualization.

Herzberg’s Two factor Theory
(i) Hygiene is extrinsic in nature. E.g.
working conditions, salary status in
an organization, security etc.
(ii) Motivators include recognition,
achievements and accomplishments,
responsibility and satisfaction.

McClelland's Acquired Needs Theory
(i) Need for Achievement
(ii) Need for Affiliation
(iii) Need for Power.
 Adam’s Equity Theory
(i) People value fair treatment which
causes them to be motivated. The input
they give, the contributions they make,
they receive the same output, reward or
promotion from an institution or
organization they work for. Thus they are
motivated that they are treated equitably,
not favoritism.

Vroom’s Expectancy Theory
(i) Valence is the expected outcomes.
(ii) Instrumentality is if you perform well,
valued outcome will be received.
 Locke’s Goal Setting Theory
(i) By establishing goals, learners are
motivated to take actions to attain
desired goals.

Conclusion
Without motivation, effective learning
can
not take place. Thus, motivational
theories
and Maslow’s theory in particular helps
teachers and educationalists to
understand
learning needs of the learners that will
motivate them for learning.

Theories of motivation: Maslow's hierarchy of needs

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