Alderfer – ERG Theory

In 1969 Clayton Alderfer published in the Psychological Review an article entitled “An Empirical Test of a New Theory of Human Need”.  He expanded Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs by defining three categories in his ERG theory: Existence Needs: physiological and safety needs Relatedness Needs: social and external...

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The O.C.E.A.N.

An ocean of people, all different and special, has something in common: O.C.E.A.N. – Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism  – The Big Five. Openness – creativity and innovation vs. status quo Conscientiousness – responsibility and positive motivation vs....

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McClelland -Theory of Needs

Psychologist David McClelland has developed a Theory of Needs that focuses not on the hierarchical relationship between them ( Maslow & Alderfer) but on how the needs are shaped over time and how they manifest as a motivational pattern. Categories: Achievement (n Ach) with the following characteristics: A preference for...

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Equity Theory – John Stacey Adams

In the Lord’s Prayer, the first petition is for daily bread. No one can worship God or love his neighbor on an empty stomach. Woodrow Wilson Equity theory is a process theory that states that motivation comes from what you get for what you give with a twist: what the other one gets is much more and always exactly what you...

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