There is always kind of 'petrol' which propels us to action. In order to undertake activity we need to have appropriate motifs. The Latin etymology of word 'motivation' is 'movere' what means to move, to push on.
There are two different categories of motivation – content theories and process theories, however none of them are commonly accepted. I am going to wonder about one content theory which is the most relevant to me.
Content theory also known as a need theory focuses on internal factors which make us to undertake an action. They energize us to progress.
The major content theories are as following:
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs,
• Alderfer's ERG theory,
• Herzeberg's motivator-hygiene theory,
• McClelland's learned needs.
Among the theories the most popular is Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of human needs. What I think is the most relevant to me is Clayton Alderfer’s ERG theory. It describes needs according to some hierarchy alike Maslow’s theory, for it has been based on it. However, Alderfer’s theory has got some important differences. The letters ERG stands for three stages of human needs: Existence, Relatedness and Growth. In comparison with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, this model looks simpler. However, it works on the same basis – it is hierarchical. Growth needs are less important than relatedness, which are less important than existence needs.
On the other hand the theory shows important differences, that is why I feel it is more relevant to myself than Maslow’s model. As ERG theory lets the different levels of necessities of life be chased at the same time it seems to be more realistic in life. Also different people can have different order for needs, this fact is allowed to exist according to ERG theory, however in Maslow’s not. Everyone is different and there is no requirement to claim that everyone pursue their needs in the same order. There are people who place for example growth requirement above existence needs. Good example can be I myself, where in my case some of relatedness needs are more important than rather existence ones. This flexibility within the theory is significant, for allows it to be applied to broader group of people.
MASLOW'S HIRARCHY OF NEEDS
To back up ERG theory I can appeal to my example, where I have come to different country to try at foreign language university. I literally did not know even one person in High Wycombe, I completely did not know how it was like here. Therefore it can be said that my existence requirements like safety and psychological needs were not satisfied at all. I did not know neither whether I would find a job which would help me to upkeep nor the chance to find a place to live. In spite of these factors my relatedness and growth requirement meant more to me and were placed over the existence needs. There always is some factor to motivate people to perform. So what motivates me to study in England? The answer is easy and it is the curiosity. In every place at the world life is different. My curiosity to experience it is huge. I cannot stay in one place for a long. Before, I came to High Wycombe I lived in Dublin and had experienced Irish way of life which now I can say is completely different than English. It is good for start to live in Great Britain for a while, for it is easy to take care of yourself. However, after university my curiosity will bring me on to other countries and continents. I am looking forward to move on much further into the world, but I cannot stand the waiting. I do not care about settling somewhere for good. I can say that my social needs are greater than safety ones, that is why I want to keep travelling as long as I would be able to.
CLAYTON ALDERFER'S ERG THEORY
Motivation is important factor driving people to act. What when one feels lack of proper motivation? It happens more or less frequently to everyone. This state of mind is called demotivation and actually it very often helps to achieve goals. Demotivation often causes even bigger drive to act. Once there was situation when I felt demotivated and It is applicable to some of the motivation theories. The situation was relevant to coming to High Wycombe to university. After I have come here I started looking for a job. But this was not easy and after a while I decided to go to job agency and work as a waiter. And here it can be said it was the stupidest thing at the world. Working as a waiter is not bad at after all but the fact it was by agency really demotivated to work at all. The basic salary, necessity to pay for transport to work every time, in most of cases working in unfriendly environment, no possibilities for personal development and small amount of hours a week. All these factors effectively demotivated to work. In addition, while working for agency and being student it is not possible to upkeep from the money the pay. Many times it was hard to pay rent or bills in time. Lack of satisfaction of basic, existence needs caused mental anxiety. Lack of money for basic needs badly influenced my mood frequently. Awareness of no chances to develop while working for the agency irritated as well. I did not feel like working at all. I was hard, first 6 months of living in High Wycombe. After this great demotivation I have decided to do something with current state of affairs and started looking for a proper job. I succeed, and nowadays can afford everything I need or want. If I knew all what experienced during first 6 months here, I would definitely not work for the agency at all. Waste of time and no gains, either financial or psychological.
After all findings which I dealt with, motivation turned out as a life-jacket, not literally, however it has got great potency to change lives for better.
HOW MOTIVATION CHANGED THER LIVES
Without motivation there would not be either great achievements, or great men in our world. Motivation improves the lives and is important factor to develop the world. It does not seem possible, but sometimes even demotivation has got positive effect on people, for after it there comes great load of proper motivation to act.
