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Related Concept Videos

Motivational Cycle01:20

Motivational Cycle

The motivational cycle is a key concept that explains how individuals are motivated to meet their needs. At its core, the cycle revolves around four distinct stages: need, drive, goal-directed behavior, and goal achievement. These stages respond to imbalances in the body or mind, prompting actions that restore balance.
The cycle begins with a need. This need can arise from various conditions, such as hunger, thirst, or temperature changes. For instance, when an individual feels cold, their body...
Incentive Theory: Pull Theory of Motivation01:18

Incentive Theory: Pull Theory of Motivation

Incentive theory, or the "pull theory" of motivation, suggests that external rewards primarily drive behavior. Individuals are motivated to engage in activities when they anticipate a desirable outcome. This is why people often work hard for promotions or study intensively to achieve high grades. These incentives can be tangible, physical rewards such as money or promotions, or intangible, non-physical rewards like praise and social recognition.
The theory differentiates between intrinsic and...
Drive-Reduction Theory: Push Theory of Motivation01:27

Drive-Reduction Theory: Push Theory of Motivation

Clark Hull's drive-reduction theory, introduced in the 1940s and 1950s and often termed the "push theory" of motivation, provides a framework for understanding how biological and learned drives influence behavior. Hull suggested that motivation originates from the need to alleviate physiological tension caused by unmet biological necessities. The theory proposes that when a basic need, such as hunger or sleep, goes unfulfilled, it creates an internal imbalance. This imbalance, or drive, pushes...
Introduction to Motivation and Emotion01:29

Introduction to Motivation and Emotion

Motivation is a multifaceted process that drives behavior toward fulfilling various physiological or psychological needs. This process involves initiating, guiding, and maintaining specific actions influenced by internal and external factors. For example, when someone feels hungry while watching television, hunger is a motivator, prompting the individual to get up, walk to the kitchen, and find something to eat. In this instance, hunger initiates and sustains the behavior necessary to meet the...
Secondary Motives: Power Motivation and Achievement Motivation01:27

Secondary Motives: Power Motivation and Achievement Motivation

Power motivation and achievement motivation are two essential social motives identified by psychologist David McClelland. These motives influence behavior in various personal and professional contexts, shaping how individuals interact with others and pursue their goals.
Power motivation is characterized by the desire to influence, control, or have an impact on others. It is shaped by an individual's experiences, social environment, and cultural context. People with high power motivation are...
Motivational Bias01:25

Motivational Bias

Cognitive bias results from limitations in thinking and information processing, leading to systematic errors in judgment. Conversely, motivational bias stems from personal desires or emotions, causing distortions in perception to align with self-interest. Motivational bias influences how individuals perceive and attribute causes to events, often shaped by personal needs, goals, and self-esteem preservation. This bias can distort judgment, leading to inaccurate assessments of success, failure,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans
12:09

Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans

Published on: March 19, 2014

Motivation.

David W Chambers

    The Journal of the American College of Dentists
    |February 1, 2008
    PubMed
    Summary

    Explore motivation theories, from basic needs to rational self-interest and life orientation. Understanding these psychological drivers is key to explaining human behavior and performance.

    Area of Science:

    • Psychology
    • Organizational Behavior
    • Behavioral Science

    Background:

    • Early motivation theories focused on overcoming primary deficiencies like hunger.
    • Individuals develop secondary motives, complicating simple deficiency-based models.
    • Existing theories struggle to fully explain the complexity of human motivation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To review and synthesize prominent theories of motivation.
    • To explore needs-based, rational, and life-orientation approaches to motivation.
    • To provide a comprehensive overview of motivation research.

    Main Methods:

    • Literature review of key motivation theories.
    • Discussion of Herzberg's, McClelland's, and Maslow's needs theories.
    • Analysis of rational choice models including Vroom's, Adams', and Porter-Lawler's.

    More Related Videos

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    Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal

    Published on: April 18, 2017

    Quantifying Social Motivation in Mice Using Operant Conditioning
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    Quantifying Social Motivation in Mice Using Operant Conditioning

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    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: Jul 7, 2026

    Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans
    12:09

    Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans

    Published on: March 19, 2014

    Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal
    06:45

    Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal

    Published on: April 18, 2017

    Quantifying Social Motivation in Mice Using Operant Conditioning
    07:43

    Quantifying Social Motivation in Mice Using Operant Conditioning

    Published on: August 8, 2015

    Main Results:

    • Needs theories (Herzberg, McClelland, Maslow) explain motivation through hygiene, achievement, power, affiliation, and self-actualization.
    • Rational process theories (Vroom, Adams, Porter-Lawler) view motivation as self-interest maximization.
    • The study introduces theories of motivation as a life orientation.

    Conclusions:

    • Motivation is complex, involving basic needs, learned behaviors, and rational decision-making.
    • Understanding diverse motivational theories is crucial for explaining human actions.
    • Further research into motivation as a life orientation is warranted.