NOTES
Academic Year:2025-26 Subject: Psychology Grade & Div.: 11ABCD
Lesson: Chapter 8 Topic: Motivation Prepared By: Fathimathul Sabira C
Homework Classwork For Reference Revision
MOTIVATION
Motivation is the process that initiates and sustains activities aimed at achieving a specific goal.
It is influenced by the expectancy-value theory, which suggests that motivation depends on the
perceived likelihood of success and the value attached to that success.
Nature of Motivation
The study of motivation seeks to understand the underlying reasons for human behaviour. The
term 'motivation' is derived from the Latin word 'movere,' which means 'to move.' While
motivation plays a crucial role in influencing behaviour, it is not the sole factor. Other
components such as instincts, drives, needs, goals, and incentives also contribute to the
motivational process.
The Motivation Cycle
A need is recognized, indicating a deficiency of something important. This recognition triggers a
state of arousal, referred to as a drive, which propels individuals to take action toward fulfilling
their objectives. Upon reaching the goal, the drive diminishes, and the individual returns to a
balanced state as their needs are met.
Types of Motive
There are two main types of motives: biological and social-psychological. Biological motives,
also called physiological motives, are related to the body's needs and the desire to
maintain homeostasis. Social-psychological motives, on the other hand, are influenced by a
person's interactions with their environment and various social and psychological factors. While
these two types of motives are different, they are also connected. Sometimes, biological needs
can lead to social-psychological motives, and vice versa. It's important to understand that most
motives come from a mix of both biological and social-psychological factors, depending on the
situation.
Biological Motives
The biological or physiological perspective is one of the earliest ways to understand motivation
and behaviour. This view suggests that organisms experience internal physiological imbalances
that create needs. These needs generate drives that motivate behaviour aimed at achieving
specific goals to alleviate the drive. Early theories of motivation often relied on the idea
of instinct. Instincts are innate patterns of behaviour that are biologically determined rather
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than learned. Common human instincts include curiosity, flight, repulsion, reproduction, and
parental care. The term instinct refers to a drive to act, pushing the organism to reduce that
drive. Basic biological needs like hunger, thirst, and sex are crucial for survival and are
explained by this approach.
Hunger
Changes in liver metabolism trigger feelings of hunger. The two regions linked to hunger are
the Lateral Hypothalamus and the Ventromedial Hypothalamus; stimulating the first region
causes hunger, while the second suppresses it.
Thirst
Drinking water is essential to relieve a dry mouth, which, along with internal body functions,
causes the sensation of thirst. The urge to drink is mainly triggered by conditions such as
water loss from cells, decreased blood volume, and the presence of nerve cells
called osmoreceptors in the anterior hypothalamus, which send signals when cells are
dehydrated.
Sex
Sexual motivation is influenced by biological factors and is essential for reproduction. Factors
such as hormonal changes and social influences play a significant role in sexual behaviour.
Psychosocial Motives
Psychosocial motives are learned through interactions with social groups such as family,
neighbours, friends, and relatives. These motives are complex and shaped by one’s social
environment.
Need for Affiliation
Companionship: Most people naturally seek companionship and prefer being with others rather
than being alone.
Group Formation: Individuals tend to form groups and connections with others when they find
common interests or similarities.
Importance of Relationships: Building connections and relationships is a fundamental part of
human life.
Affiliation: The motivation for social contact, known as affiliation, arises when individuals feel
vulnerable, helpless, or even content.
Active Seekers: People with a high need for affiliation actively seek out the company of others
and work on nurturing friendly relationships.
Need for Power
Desire for Influence: The need for power is about wanting to influence others and control
resources.
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Goals of Power: This motivation includes goals like influencing, controlling, persuading,
leading, and charming others, with the primary aim of enhancing one’s reputation in the eyes
of others.
Need for Achievement
Diligence and Competition: Some students are motivated to work hard and compete for good
marks in exams.
Opportunities: Good grades lead to better opportunities for advanced education and improved
job prospects.
Achievement Motivation: This drive for excellence, known as achievement motivation or n-
Ach, guides behaviour and shapes perceptions.
Development in Childhood: Children develop a sense of achievement motivation during their
formative years by absorbing this drive from parents, role models, and cultural influences.
Curiosity and Exploration
Goal-less Activities: People often engage in activities without a specific goal or purpose,
finding pleasure in the activities themselves.
Curiosity: This motivational tendency involves seeking novel experiences and gaining pleasure
from obtaining information.
Self-Contained Activities: Curiosity describes behavior where the primary motive is the activity
itself, rather than an external goal.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Physiological needs are the foundation of Maslow's hierarchy. These are the essential
requirements for survival, such as food, water, and warmth.
Safety needs constitute the second level. This includes the need for protection
from harm and danger, as well as job security to ensure financial stability.
Belongingness needs represent the third level, which involves the pursuit of positive and
meaningful relationships and a sense of companionship.
Esteem needs are part of the fourth level and focus on fostering a sense of self-worth,
pride, and accomplishment. These needs contribute to enhanced self-confidence and
self-esteem.
The fifth and final level is self-actualization, which involves realizing one's full potential.
A self-actualized individual is self-aware, socially responsive, and willing to embrace
challenges.
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