Allen and Sawhney (2019), define motivation.

Full Answer Section

Allen and Sawhney (2019) explain the fundamental difference as follows:

• Needs Theories of Motivation:
  • These theories focus on what motivates people. They emphasize the internal needs or drives that propel individuals to action.  
  • They attempt to identify and categorize the specific needs that individuals seek to satisfy.  
  • Examples include Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, and McClelland's Acquired Needs Theory.
  • They answer the question: "What are the fundamental human needs that drive behavior?"
• Process Theories of Motivation:
  • These theories focus on how motivation occurs. They examine the cognitive processes that individuals use to make choices about their behavior.  
  • They emphasize the rational and cognitive aspects of motivation, such as expectations, goals, and perceptions of fairness.  
  • Examples include Expectancy Theory, Equity Theory, and Goal-Setting Theory.  
  • They answer the question: "How do individuals make decisions about their effort and behavior?"

In short, needs theories tell us what people want, and process theories tell us how they go about trying to get it.

3. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (According to Allen and Sawhney, 2019):

Allen and Sawhney (2019) describe Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a pyramid-shaped model that proposes that human needs are arranged in a hierarchical order, with lower-level needs needing to be satisfied before higher-level needs become motivators. The hierarchy consists of the following levels, from lowest to highest:

• Physiological Needs:
  • These are the most basic needs for survival, such as food, water, shelter, and sleep.
• Safety Needs:
  • These needs involve security and protection from physical and emotional harm.
• Love and Belonging Needs:
  • These needs focus on social connections, such as friendship, intimacy, and a sense of belonging.  
• Esteem Needs:
  • These needs involve self-respect, confidence, achievement, and recognition from others.
• Self-Actualization Needs:
  • This is the highest level of need, involving the desire for self-fulfillment, personal growth, and realizing one's full potential.  

According to Maslow, individuals are motivated to satisfy their needs in a sequential manner, moving up the hierarchy as lower-level needs are met. Allen and Sawhney would stress that this framework, while influential, is a needs theory, and therefore focuses on the "what" of motivation.

Sample Answer

Definition of Motivation (According to Allen and Sawhney, 2019):

According to Allen and Sawhney (2019), motivation can be defined as the psychological processes that arouse and direct goal-oriented behavior. It's about what drives individuals to act, how they choose to act, and how persistent they are in their actions. Essentially, it's the forces within a person that affect their direction, intensity, and persistence of voluntary behavior.

2. Difference Between "Needs Theories of Motivation" and "Process Theories of Motivation" (According to Allen and Sawhney, 2019):