How basic desires affect motivation
Have you ever wondered why you are really motivated to accomplish some goals but not excited at all about others? You probably figured that goals that are more important to you are the ones that you are going to fight for right? So how do you determine what is important to you and are these important motivating factors consistent? Professor Steven Reiss has proposed a theory that there are 16 basic desires that guide nearly all of human behavior. It is the perceived importance level that each of us has in these basic desires that dictates what we are and are not motivated by. Of course this list is not all inclusive and there are certainly factors not listed here that serve as strong motivators for individuals. Here is a brief introduction and explanation of Reiss's 16 basic desires.
Acceptance - the desire for acceptance is also referred to as the need for approval. There are individuals who have a need for the extrinsic motivation that comes from other people who encourage you and who you want to please.
|
|
Curiosity - the curiosity desire is the need to think things through and find an answer to a problem that may not be obvious. Some individuals are motivated by the prospect of exploring the unknown.
Eating - the need for food and water is one of the most basic of all needs. If there were a goal that hinged on being able to provide yourself or your family with the food they needed, this desire would definitely be a compelling motivator.
Family - the desire to raise children and have a family of your own.
Honor - the need to remain loyal to the traditions and principles that are considered part of one's upbringing.
Idealism - those who have a need for idealism will fight for causes that they feel are social injustices, regardless of whether or not that individual is the victim.
Independence - the need for individuality is particularly strong for most individuals in their youth, however, adulthood often also presents situations that motivate individuals to fight for a clearer sense self.
Order - for some, the need for order, organization, stability, and predictability provides them with an environment that they feel safe in because they feel in control.
Physical activity - the need for exercise and movement can really make the difference in motivation to do such things as excel on sports teams and stick to a regular work-out routine.
Power - the need for influence, even influence over one's will, can be a strong motivator. Some individuals are motivated to work their way up the corporate ladder because they desire to have this kind of power.
Romance - many famous psychologists and psychotherapists agree that the need to be loved and the need for a physical manifestation of that love, is one of the strongest motivators we have, even on par with the need for food.
Saving - for all those pack rats out there, there is actually a basic need that some people have that motivates them to collect.
Social contact - the need for relationships with peers, neighbors, and friends is motivator for those who value social interactions and contact.
Status - the need for social standing and importance exists in varying degrees, some individuals are happy with occasional verbal recognition, while others are not satisfied until their status is recognized on a wider scale.
Tranquility - the need to be safe is also one of the most basic of needs. Few people lack the motivation to remain safe and to protect that which is most valuable.
Vengeance - the need to strike back and to receive vindication for a wrong that was done to us personally can become a desire for motivation to do that which we may not normally do.
