The Psychological Root of Motivation - Essay Example

Maslow talks about the levels of needs in terms of homeostasis.  Motivation is the hypothetical concept that stands for the underlying force impelling behavior and giving it direction. It implies active, integrated and directed behavior. When we speak of motivation therefore, we may refer both to the energy expended in goal-seeking or to the internal or external factors which help initiate and maintain organizing effort. Motives can then be conceived as predispositions towards certain kinds of behavior which have developed with the individual as a result of the relative success of his varied attempts at satisfying his need. Motivation involves a complex interaction within the individual and the total environment in which he lives. This is illustrated in the motive of peer approval which becomes a motive to the individual to the extent that it satisfies his need of belonging and social recognition. There are common implications in the terminology of motivation whether we speak of it as motive, drive, need, impulse, wish, want id or valence. There is the implied existence of a force, of some degree of intensity that activates and arouses behavior. The object or goal of this force defines its direction. Motives may either be physiological or psychological. Physiological motives drive the individual to meet his body needs for food, water, and sleep. A kindergarten child may not be attentive in the class because he is malnourished or he did not eat breakfast. A college student cannot concentrate on the class discussions for he was sleepless the night before. Psychological needs, those that are not basically physiological are more numerous and have more variations depending on the theory that one subscribes to. It is generally accepted that psychological need cannot be separated from physiological needs. The two are interdependent. Each affects the other. Maslow’s theory is consistent with the basic objectives of the teaching-learning process in particular and of the educational system in general, that is, to develop the potentials of the learners. The theory states that self-actualization cannot be achieved unless the lower levels of needs are satisfied. Thus, the learners’ biological needs must be met. The student must feel that he belongs to the group. He must have self-esteem before he can self-actualize. An atmosphere conducive to the meeting of these needs is important. No fast rules can be stated here. But suffice to say that the teacher’s awareness of his pupils’ need cannot be overemphasized. His ingenuity to create situations facilitative of self-actualization is thereby challenged. Of course, there are hindrances to this such as big classes that make it difficult for the teacher to recognize individual differences and heavy teaching loads that may take away the teacher from the learners. When man wants to attain happiness and freedom, man has to satisfy his needs and motivation transpires giving the person enough reason to reach for his goals. With the Brave New World, freedom is being discussed in relation to social stratification and social order. Motives, wants and needs and also drives often spoken of interrelatedly may be broken into classifications as physiological and psychological motives. The physiological motives are also referred to as biological, organic, primary or basic. A large part of man’s activity is devoted to the maintenance of bodily needs – the need for food, water, air, excretion, sleep, activtity, shelter and sexual needs. These comprise the first stage in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Man is attracted towards states which are pleasant and draws away from stimulations which are unpleasant. Man naturally looks for relationships that are warm and affectionate. During infancy, this need is very often satisfied by loving parents who provide the warm emotional security that will etermine to a large extent, later personal adjustments in life. In Huxley’s work, “All members of society are conditioned with the values that the World State idealizes. Children are trained to identify by their caste, co-operate, copulate, to enjoy anything that is good for Society, and hate anything that is bad for Society. Constant consumption is the bedrock of stability for the World State and one thing everyone is encouraged to consume is the ubiquitous drug, soma. Soma is a mild hallucinogen that makes it possible for everyone to be blissfully oblivious. It has no short-term side effects and induces no hangover; however, long-term abuse leads to death by respiratory failure.” (Huxley, 1998) If the people in Huxley’s world are unable to develop warm and affectionate interpersonal relationships with family and other members of the society, they will not be able to satisfy their psychological need which later on will hinder them for achieving self-actualization. The atmosphere at home is a big developing factor for the emotional stability of the child. A home which fosters love and affection is giving the child the solid foundation that will make him a worthy member of the society, and from the love of his parents, this love will later on radiate to encompass more and more people so that later on, the self is integrated with the satisfaction of more people. It can be noted that in Huxley’s book, calling your biological parents as mother or father is considered as the highest form of insult. The novel begins in London in the "year of our Ford 632" (AD 2540 in the Gregorian Calendar). “In this world, the vast majority of the population is unified as The World State, an eternally peaceful, stable, plentiful society where everyone believes everyone is happy. In this society, natural reproduction has been done away with and children are born and raised in Hatchery and Conditioning Centres.” (Huxley, 1998) Freedom comes at a great price and great sacrifice. If you think hard about it, can man really be “free” or is it just a pigment of man’s imagination? When you declare yourself free and the state declares you free; are you really or were you just transferred into a different shaped and differently designed box? The people in Huxley’s novel is not really born free, they follow regulations and rules that are automatically set up within the society that we are in, they follow cultures and traditions that have been laid down even before we were planned to be conceived. A man can always be happy where he is and in whatever state he is in, happiness simply is a matter of choice while freedom is a matter of being given or being earned. It is not easily given and not easily obtained either. Human being the most highest and most intelligent of all that was created are being overruled by power and glory; they are blinded and will be going at any cost to obtain the highest level of command. They are all bound by norms and they have to follow it or suffer the consequence that follows when we break these rules. They are bound to the laws of man and of nature, of the laws of our beliefs and traditions and cultures. they follow certain aspects that have been laid down before us even before we were planned to be conceived. Freedom is not gin and given easily, it is worked for and it is obtained and not an innate thing that has been with us since we were born. If I have to choose between the two, I would probably choose freedom, for I want to know the true meaning of it. Unbound by any rules and I will not be apprehended or condemned to do anything that will please me. I can be happy anytime I want. Where ever I am or in what ever state I m in, I can make myself happy. Happiness is a matter of choice and not of chance. A prisoner in jail sentenced to walk the gallows and be decapitated can lie miserably in his chamber and forsake everyone that he have met of any saints that he could think of hating everything and everyone or he can make himself happy and think of positive things even though he is at the end of his life, he could still choose to smile and be proud that he is going to meet his creator very soon, perhaps ask for forgiveness and be merry. In short, anyone can be happy; it is just a matter of choice. Happiness is abundant everywhere, it is handy and very edible to feed your soul. Freedom on the other hand is scarce and it costs us a great deal of strength and intelligence. Freedom has killed many men, women and children for its sake and it is still uncertain once they get it. At the same time, freedom, once obtained can be as equally deadly since freedom without boundaries is bound to cause chaos and disorientation and dilemma. Imagine a world without rules and bounds? Imagine a world where anyone can do whatever they please, people will kill people and anyone can be king if they wish to. Rules and regulations help keep order and perhaps the only freedom that we can achieve is freedom that is with boundaries and limitations. We cannot be as free as the word itself. Choosing freedom over happiness is more wise in my opinion because after your freedom, happiness will follow through, it always does, some people also think that when they have achieved their freedom, they will be happy, the reason why they fight tooth and nail to get it and have it. Freedom is given and obtained while happiness is innate and a matter of choice and deciding whether to be happy or to be lonesome. If a choice between the two has to be made, I would choose freedom, it is harder to obtain and harder to achieve. Anyone can put freedom in the pocket of their brain and it will remain there intact and untouched and unseen unless we will be ready to stand up and fight for it whilst happiness we can hold in the palm of our hands proudly sharing it with others. Happiness can be a very contagious disease that will spread with the people around you making them smile as you smile. It is everywhere and all we have to do it is to recognize its presence, grab it and take it as our own. Higgins, Charles & Higgins, Regina (2000). Cliff Notes on Huxleys Brave New World. New York: Wiley Publishing. Huxley, Aldous, 1894–1963 (1998). Brave New World, First Perennial Classics ed., New York: HarperCollins Publishers Postman, Neil (1985). Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business.. USA: Penguin USA. Wahba, A; Bridgewell, L (1976). "Maslow reconsidered: A review of research on the need hierarchy theory". Organizational Behavior and Human Performance (15): 212-240.  Read More