Motivation and wellbeing

• Motivation


  The conscious or unconscious drive, behind the behaviours that individuals initiate, direct and/or maintain. Drivers of human behaviour can be physiological, cognitive, emotional and social
• Motive


  The desire/s behind goal-oriented behaviour
• Self-determination theory


  • Deci and Ryan were key figures in highlighting that humans don't perform behaviour for the sole purpose of being rewarded
  • The self-determination continuum that ranges from non self-determined (amotivation) to self-determined (intrinsic motivation)
  • The three psychological needs humans have that need to be met to feel autonomous, competent and able to relate to others
• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs


  • A motivational theory in psychology comprising a five-tier model of human needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid
  • The five levels of the hierarchy are physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization
  • Lower-level basic needs like food, water, and safety must be met first before higher needs can be fulfilled
  • Few people are believed to reach the level of self-actualization, but we can all have moments of peak experiences
  • The order of the levels is not completely fixed. For some, esteem outweighs love, while others may self-actualize despite poverty. Our behaviors are usually motivated by multiple needs simultaneously
• Deficiency needs


  Are concerned with basic survival and include physiological needs and safety needs. Viewed as deficiency motivated – when they are unmet they motivate people due to that deprivation. People must meet deficiency needs before they can meet growth needs
• Growth needs


  Are more psychological and are associated with individuals reaching their full potential and eventually "self-actualising". Achieved through more intellectual and creative behaviours. These needs do not stem from a lack of something but rather a desire to grow as a person. Life events can disrupt progress up the hierarchy and therefore people may move back and forth between needs
• The Expanded Hierarchy of Needs

  • Maslow's hierarchy of needs was expanded in 1970 to include cognitive, aesthetic and transcendence needs
• The expanded model


  • Biological and physiological needs
  • Safety needs
  • Love and belongingness needs
  • Esteem needs
  • Cognitive needs
  • Aesthetic needs
  • Self-actualization needs
  • Transcendence needs
• Cognitive needs


  Knowledge and understanding, curiosity, exploration, need for meaning and predictability. Meeting these needs facilitates personal growth, comprehension, and a deeper understanding of life and its complexities
• Aesthetic needs


  Appreciation and search for beauty, balance, form, etc. Fulfilling these needs leads to a deeper sense of satisfaction and harmony in life, as individuals seek environments and experiences that are pleasing and resonant with their sense of beauty
• Transcendence needs


  A person is motivated by values that transcend beyond the personal self. Beyond self-actualization, they represent the human desire to connect with a higher reality, purpose, or the universe. This level emphasizes altruism, spiritual connection, and helping others achieve their potential
• Self-actualization


  Maslow was interested in human potential and how potential is fulfilled rather than what happens when things go wrong. He suggested that motivation is based on people seeking fulfillment and change through personal growth. Maslow (1962) believed self-actualization could be measured through the concept of peak experiences. This occurs when a person experiences the world totally for what it is, and there are feelings of euphoria, joy, and wonder
• Characteristics of Self-Actualized Peoples

  • They perceive reality efficiently and can tolerate uncertainty
  • Accept themselves and others for what they are
  • Spontaneous in thought and action
  • Problem-centered (not self-centered)
  • Unusual sense of humor
  • Able to look at life objectively
  • Highly creative
  • Resistant to enculturation, but not purposely unconventional
  • Concerned for the welfare of humanity
  • Capable of deep appreciation of basic life-experience
  • Establish deep satisfying interpersonal relationships with a few people
  • Peak experiences
  • Need for privacy
  • Democratic attitudes
  • Strong moral/ethical standards
• How does one become self-actualized?

  Although people achieve self-actualization in their own unique way, they tend to share certain characteristics. However, self-actualization is a matter of degree, 'There are no perfect human beings' (Maslow, 1970a, p. 176). It is not necessary to display all 15 characteristics to become self-actualized, and not only self-actualized people will display them. Maslow did not equate self-actualization with perfection. Self-actualization merely involves achieving one's potential. Less than two percent of the population achieve self-actualization
• Behaviours that lead to self-actualization


  • Experiencing life like a child, with full absorption and concentration
  • Trying new things instead of sticking to safe paths
  • Listening to your own feelings in evaluating experiences instead of the voice of tradition, authority or the majority
  • Avoiding pretense ("game playing") and being honest
  • Being prepared to be unpopular if your views do not coincide with those of the majority
  • Taking responsibility and working hard
  • Trying to identify your defenses and having the courage to give them up
• Real world applications

  • Human resource management – subsidised gym memberships, health insurance, incentives, formal and informal recognition, anti-harassment policies
  • Nursing – basic needs met, company, clean environment, maintain dignity and respect, empower patients to have some say in their care
  • Education – group work, orderly classrooms with expectations, recognition of progress and achievement, passion projects, recess and lunch breaks
• Bias – Maslow studied the biographies of people he deemed as self-actualised (extremely subjective). Reduces validity
• Bias sample – mostly highly educated white males (Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, Beethoven) with only a small portion of females (Mother Teresa, Eleanor Roosevelt)
• Subjective Wellbeing


  • A model of subjective wellbeing - the mixture of negative and positive measures and overall emotional and cognitive assessment of life that is personal to the individual. Based on personal experience and is therefore subjective
• Components of subjective wellbeing

  • Cognitive: life satisfaction (the judgements a person makes)
  • Emotional: affective balance (positive and negative affect)
• Model of subjective wellbeing – Diener


  • Life satisfaction: Cognitive measure of wellbeing - The overall assessment one makes of their own life and life's experiences
  • Affective balance: Emotional measure of wellbeing - The experience and outward expression of emotion (positive affect: pleasant emotions, negative affect: distressing emotions). People experience both types of affects and attempt to enhance their lives by reducing negative affect and increasing positive affect. Hedonic balance = a global judgement of "happiness" people make comparing their negative and positive affect and the overall equilibrium (or lack of) that exists between the two
• Psychological Wellbeing – 6 Factor Model

  • Ryff assessed aspects of positive psychological functioning within many theories including maturity, self-actualization, life-span development, positive mental health, individuation, and the fully functioning person. She identified the overlapping concepts and developed the 6 factors of wellbeing. Higher scores = greater wellbeing. Variations of the scale exist they are applicable to a range of demographics and ages
• Motivation


  The copious or unconscious drive leading to behaviors that individuals exhibit
• Motive


  The desires behind goal-directed behavior
• Sources of Motivation


  • Physiological
  • Cognitions
  • Emotional
  • Social
• Physiological motivation


  Necessary for survival. E.g., thirst, hunger, sleep
• Cognitions motivation


  Derived from intellectual challenges, curiosity, and personal interests. E.g., personal values, life goals, expectations
• Emotional motivation


  Stems from avoiding pain and seeking happiness. E.g., fear, anger, happiness
• Social motivation


  Need for social relationships and group belonging. E.g., peer pressure, societal norms, approval
• Self-Determination Theory


  Concepts: Motivation, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and three psychological needs for motivation
• Amotivation


  Lack of motivation. Occurs when the environment does not support competent behavior
• Extrinsic Motivation


  Motivation for external rewards. E.g., respect, social recognition, money, awards. A means to an end
• Intrinsic Motivation


  Motivation for self-satisfaction from achieving goals. E.g., self-gratification. An end in itself
• Psychological Needs for Motivation


  • Autonomy
  • Competence
  • Relatedness
• Autonomy


  Control over one's own actions. Enhances well-being and motivation
• Competence


  Mastering new skills and achieving. Increases satisfaction and motivation
• Relatedness


  Forming social connections and positive relationships. Contributes to well-being
• Self-Determination Theory


  • Universally applicable across cultures and contexts
  • Emphasizes intrinsic motivation for enjoyable and satisfying activities
• Hierarchy of Needs - Maslow (1954, 1970)


  • Physiological Needs
  • Safety Needs
  • Love and Belongingness Needs
  • Esteem Needs
  • Self-Actualisation
• Physiological Needs


  Basic physical needs (food, water, sleep). Once satisfied, no longer motivate