Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
The theory of motivation refers to explanations or models that help us understand why and how individuals are driven to engage in certain behaviors. These theories aim to explain the underlying factors and processes that influence human motivation.
According to this theory, our behaviors are driven by biological needs or internal drives, such as hunger or thirst.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: This is a motivational theory proposing that humans have different levels of needs (such as physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization) which must be met in a hierarchical order.