Definitions
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Needs
All definitions
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"Needs" are a "construct (a convenient fiction or hypothetical concept) which stands for a force... in the brain region, a force which organizes perception, apperception, intellection, conation and action in such a way as to transform in a certain direction an existing unsatisfying situation" (Murray,1938; in Pinder, 2008).
Relevance for OP Within OP, the concept of needs is important historically because it was the basis for the early theories of work motivation. In effect, needs were cast in the role of motives for work-relevant behavior. In theory, understanding needs as motivators should lead to application in the form of eliciting optimal, or at least better, employee performance. However, the needs theories (e.g. Maslow's hierarchy, Herzberg's two-factor theory) as a body have not delivered on that over-arching promise. Yet, they are still interesting and sometimes useful in the world of work. As a work motivation focus, needs theories were overshadowed by cognitive/process theories. The latter attempt to explain how motivation occurs rather than what basic needs might be driving it. See also: ▪ Major needs theories ▪ Major cognitive theories References Murray, H. (1938). Explorations in personality. New York: Oxford University Press. Pinder, C. C. (2008). Work motivation in organizational behavior. Psychology Press: New York and Hove. Read a practice exam essay in response to the question:
"Which needs theories have been popular with managers in spite of empirical evidence and why?" Exam essay practice answer |
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