According to Human Needs Theory, what is the primary source of motivation?

According to Human Needs Theory, what is the primary source of motivation?

• A. Behavioral rewards
• B. Internal needs
• C. Social acceptance
• D. External expectations

Answer: (B)

Human Needs Theory, primarily associated with the work of Abraham Maslow, posits that motivation arises from the fulfillment of internal needs rather than from external factors. This theory is grounded in the idea that individuals are driven by essential psychological and physiological needs arranged in a hierarchy. At the base of the hierarchy are basic needs such as physiological requirements (food, water, shelter), which must be satisfied before individuals can focus on higher-level needs like safety, belonging, esteem, and ultimately, self-actualization. Once the lower-level needs are met, people become motivated to seek fulfillment of higher-order needs, which are intrinsic in nature. This intrinsic motivation is vital because it reflects an individual’s personal drive to achieve their potential and find meaning in their experiences, which cannot be solely captured by external rewards, social approval, or adherence to societal expectations. In contrast, behavioral rewards, social acceptance, and external expectations represent motivations that originate outside the individual. While these can influence behavior, they do not speak to the deeper, internal motivations that Human Needs Theory emphasizes. Understanding this framework helps in creating learning environments that foster personal growth by addressing the internal needs of learners.

Human Needs Theory, primarily associated with the work of Abraham Maslow, posits that motivation arises from the fulfillment of internal needs rather than from external factors. This theory is grounded in the idea that individuals are driven by essential psychological and physiological needs arranged in a hierarchy.

At the base of the hierarchy are basic needs such as physiological requirements (food, water, shelter), which must be satisfied before individuals can focus on higher-level needs like safety, belonging, esteem, and ultimately, self-actualization. Once the lower-level needs are met, people become motivated to seek fulfillment of higher-order needs, which are intrinsic in nature.

This intrinsic motivation is vital because it reflects an individual’s personal drive to achieve their potential and find meaning in their experiences, which cannot be solely captured by external rewards, social approval, or adherence to societal expectations.

In contrast, behavioral rewards, social acceptance, and external expectations represent motivations that originate outside the individual. While these can influence behavior, they do not speak to the deeper, internal motivations that Human Needs Theory emphasizes. Understanding this framework helps in creating learning environments that foster personal growth by addressing the internal needs of learners.