Motivation Theories

          Concerning motivations there are three theories. These three theories are the psychoanalytic view mainly founded by Sigmund Freud. The humanistic view partially developed by Carl Rogers. Then there is the diversity view and the best known representative of the diversity tradition in the study of human motivation is Henry Murray’s theory of needs (McAdams, 2009). Of these three theories I agree with the diversity view the most.

Human Motivation  

          I strongly agree with the diversity view of human motivation, which posits a large number of different motives or needs. The reason I agree with the diversity view is because of Henry Murray’s theory of needs. The directedness of human lives becomes apparent over time, therefore it takes more than one situation to understand behavior; and it will be understood through one’s life through time. This is how behavior can be understood as a part of a purposeful sequence of one’s actions. One’s life’s characteristic direction and purpose is provided by time-binding. Human beings organize their lives and bind their time because of forces that reside within where physiological and psychological needs are located and within one’s environment where various situational constraints and opportunities for need expression or press. Through an extended period of time when a certain need constantly interacts with a certain press forms a thema. McAdams (2009), “therefore, human motivation must be understood in terms of the interaction of needs and press to produce themas” (p. 280). 

Psychoanalytic View  

          I least agree with the psychoanalytic view. McAdams (2009), “the psychoanalytic view of human motivation suggests that behavior is ultimately determined by unconscious sexual and aggressive drives and by the complex intrapsychic conflicts that arise in daily life” (p. 298-299). The main founder of this theory Sigmund Freud insisted that human beings are not in control of their own fate and believed that there was another force making the moves for human beings. This is an issue I strongly disagree with. I believe human life and human behaviors are not as simple as unforeseen forces which there is little control over, but more complex.

Conclusion

          Through my own life’s experiences, through interactions of other human beings, and through my limited, but important study and knowledge of psychology I cannot agree exactly with either of the motivation theories of psychoanalytic and humanistic views. These two theories share the belief that human behavior is motivated not by human beings themselves but by forces which humans have little control over. However I stand firmly behind the diversity view, which puts forth the common-sense proposition concerning motives and goals, everybody is different.

Reference

McAdams, D. P. (2009). The person: A new introduction to personality psychology. (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.