Motivation

 Definitionand Relevance
 Theories of Motivation

- VIE Theory
- Need Theories
- Cognitive Theories
 Definition
A tendency to expend effort
to achieve goals
 Task persistence

 Task involvement

 Goal directed behavior

 VIE Theory
Valence

Instrumentality

Expectancy
 VIE Theory
Valence -- The
The
importance
importance (valence)
(valence)
of
of the
the reward;
reward; is
is the
the
reward
reward important?
important?
 VIE Theory
Instrumentality -
Does one believe that
improved
performance leads to
greater rewards?
 VIE Theory
Expectancy - Does
one believe that
increased effort leads
to improved
performance?
 VIE
Opportunity Motivation Skills

Performance
Performance
 VIE Theory
 Motivation is only one
determinant of performance
 Performance is also
influenced by abilities/traits
and role perceptions and
opportunities
 Need-Based
Theories
A need is defined as a state
of tension
 The goal of all behavior is

the satisfaction of needs,

and the reduction of tension
Murray’s Need-
Based Theory
 Defines two types of needs:
Primary (Viscerogenic), and
Secondary (Psychogenic)
 Needs develop as a result

of an environmental press
 Murray’s
Theory
 Primary(Viscerogenic)
needs are physical needs
common to all organisms
 Secondary (Psychogenic)

needs are learned needs

 Murray’s
Theory
 Press - an environmental
experience which has a
significant impact upon the
life of an organism; results
in the development of a
need
 Maslow’s
Need-based
Theory
Defines five needs arranged
in hierarchical order:
physiological, safety, love,
esteem, and self-
actualization
 Maslow’s

Theory
Physiological needs are physical
needs common to all (e.g. need for
food, water)
 Safety needs refer to the need to
remain free of physical or
psychological harm
 Maslow’s
Theory
Love needs refer to the
need for social acceptance
Esteem needs refer to the
need to master life
experiences; the need for
success
 Maslow’s
Theory
Self actualization needs
refer to the need to reach
one’s creative potential;
to be all that one is
capable of being
 Self Actualiz- Higher Order
ation Lower Strength
Esteem Needs
Love/Belongingness

Safety
Lower Order
Physiological Higher Strength
Needs
 G
Self Actualiz-
ation
rowth
Esteem
Love/Belongingness R elatedness

Safety

Physiological E xistence

Alderfer’s ERG Theory

 Cognitive Theories
of Motivation
 Suggest that motivation is a function
of cognition and thought; that is,
what we think about what is
happening influences motivation
 Achievement Theory

 Attribution Theory
 Achievement
Theory
 Suggests that motivation is a
function of the interaction
between one’s need for
achievement/fear of failure and
the difficulty level of the task
 Achievement
Theory
 The need for achievement can
be defined as a tendency to
approach new/novel tasks
 The fear of failure can be

defined as a tendency to avoid

new/novel tasks
High Need for Low Need for
Achievement Achievement

Low Fear of High Fear of

Failure Failure
 In it ial Su c ce ss Initia l F ailure

Hig h M otiv a ti o n Mo ti v atio n

N eed fo r
Ac h. De cre ase s In creas es

Lo w M otiv a ti o n M otivat io n
Nee d for Inc re ase s De creas e s
A ch.

Task Difficulty
Easy Moderate Difficult

High
Need for
Ach.

Low
Need for
Ach.
 In it ial Su c ce ss Initia l F ailure

Hig h M otiv a ti o n Mo ti v atio n

N eed fo r
Ac h. De cre ase s In creas es

Lo w M otiv a ti o n M otivat io n
Nee d for Inc re ase s De creas e s
A ch.

Task Difficulty
Easy Moderate Difficult

High Low High Low

Need for Motivation Motivation Motivation
Ach.

Low High Low High

Need for Motivation Motivation Motivation
Ach.
 Initial Success Initial Failure

High
Need for
Ach.

Low
Need for
Ach.
 Initial Success Initial Failure

High Motivation Motivation

Need for Decreases Increases
Ach.

Low Motivation Motivation

Need for
Increases Decreases
Ach.
Attribution Theory
 Suggests that motivation is influenced by
the reasons we give ourselves
(attributions) for our successes and our
failures
 Suggests four attributions: ability, effort,
task difficulty, luck
Attribution Theory

 These four attributions (ability,

effort, task difficulty, luck) can
be categorized along two
dimensions: locus of control
(internal, external) and stability
(stable, unstable)
 Stable Unstable

Internal Ability Effort

Task
External Difficulty Luck
 Attribution Theory
 Motivation is high when we attribute
our successes and failures to
internal factors like ability and effort
 Motivation is low when we attribute

our successes and failures to

external factors like task difficulty
and luck
 Attribution Theory
 Suggests motivation will decrease
when we attribute our failures to
stable factors like ability and task
difficulty
 Suggests motivation may increase

when we attribute our failures to

unstable factors like effort