Theories of Human Motivation

     There are three theories of human motivation: behavior theory, theory of unconscious motivation and cognitive motivational theory.

            The behavior theory, which was formulated by Whiting and Child (1953), stated that a few basic motives acquired in early infancy proliferate into the behavior system in later life. Many kinds of behavior  are influenced by the motive of  stimulus - response relationships and learning (habit formation).
              According to this theory, adult behavior can be classified into a few behavior system. Each system consists of a st of habits or customs motivated by a common inborn or early acquired  motive leading to a common satisfactions. Considering five behavior systems - oral, anal, sexual. dependency and aggression - the first three are developed from motives like hunger, elimination and sex. The last two (dependency and aggression) are acquired in early childhood as a result of the infant's helplessness and inevitable frustration.


              The theory of unconscious motivation originated from Freud and psychoanalysis. Unconscious motives are manifested in the form of dreams, mannerisms, slips of speech and symptoms of neurosis. Sex and aggression are prominent impulses that find indirect, symbolic or disguised expressions.


               The cognitive theory of motivation by John W. Atkinson (1964) accepted some important findings of other theories. According to this theory goals control behavior. Some persons are highly motivated by hope of success, while others are fear of failure. Depending on the task, a person's motivation is expressed as motivational disposition, incentive and expectation. There is an awareness of what is going on, the deliberate tendency to anticipate the future, to plan and take risk.