Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
These are psychological constructs that explain why we behave the way we do. They include needs, drives, and incentives which push or pull us towards certain actions.
This is a theory suggesting that humans are motivated by unsatisfied needs. It's like being hungry (unsatisfied need) so you eat (motivated action).
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: This is a model that ranks human needs from basic physiological ones like food and water to higher-level ones like self-esteem and self-actualization. Imagine it as a pyramid with basic needs at the bottom and complex ones at the top.
This refers to doing something because it's personally rewarding, not for some external reward. Like playing a game because you enjoy it, not just to win prizes.