Motivation Concepts Analysis Paper

Motivation addresses the issues concerning the reason people do what they do. Motivational theories relate to the reasons, other than capability, that some individuals perform at a higher level than others. The purpose of this paper is to describe how achievement motivation theory would and would not be applicable if applied to two or more workplace situations drawn from personal experience.

Motivation is defined asa driving force or forces responsible for the initiation, persistence, direction, and vigor of goal-directed behavior. It includes the biological drives such as hunger, thirst, sex, and self-preservation, and also social forms of motivation such as need for achievement and need for affiliation (A Dictionary of Psychology, 2009).

Achievement motivation theory is a theory that creates a relationship connecting individual attributes, social environments, and achievement. One who possesses a strong need to achieve has a propensity to demonstrate characteristics which may include:•Considering the task as more significant than relationships• Possess an inclination to accept assignments over which they have power and accountability•A need to be personally identified with the successful conclusion of their accomplishment•Search for tasks with adequate complexity to be significantly challenging in order to exhibit capability and achieve respect from peers; at the same time are adequately simple to allow for successful accomplishment•Evade, at all costs, the possibility and consequence of failure•Anticipate positive feedback on accomplishments to make certain success is acknowledged•Seek availabilities for advancement (Encyclopedia.com,

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Achievement motivation's foundation is focused on the principles of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation is an individual's inclination to perform as a result of internal factors, for example, a need to seek usefulness or to seek self-actualization. Extrinsic motivation is an individual's inclination to perform as a result of external factors such as rewards and punishments. The assurance of rewards such as a bonus for the...