Evaluate Maslow's Theory Of Motivation Essay

The definition of motivation often changes depending on who you ask and their background (Munro, 2014). However, in terms of the workplace, it may be defined as the psychological processes that encourage an individual to invest personal resources to achieve a goal within their job role (Kanfer, Chen & Pritchard, 2008). This essay aims to summarise and evaluate Maslow’s 1943 hierarchical theory of motivation within a workplace context. The essay will briefly introduce the key features of Maslow’s theory and will evaluate the theory in terms of its assumptions, evidence base and it’s practical use.

There are numerous “need based” theories of motivation working on the assumption that there are a number of “psychological needs” that must be satisfied to improve motivation (Porteous, 1997). …show more content…
Maslow argued that this is not necessarily a need to be achieved but something to continue to strive for (Cherrington, 1991). Maslow argued that these needs were arranged in a hierarchy of importance with needs at the bottom of the hierarchy being most basic and urgent while those higher up holding less importance and not emerging until those lower down have first been satisfied (Cherrington, 1991).

Maslow devised his theory based on his experience as a counsellor and clinical psychologist and did not base the theory on empirical evidence (Cherrington, 1991). However, since then there have been a number of empirical studies examining his hierarchy of needs both in support of the theory and against. A recent study conduced by Taormina and Gao (2013) found support for the validity and reliability of the five psychological needs proposed by Maslow. Therefore, highlighting the presence the these five needs as motivational factors. Furthermore, their results give strength to the hierarchical nature of the theory as results imply that lower needs must be satisfied before the