Mcclelland and Maslow Theory Essay
McClelland’s Theory of Needs
American’s Psychologist David Clarence McClelland (1917-98) proposed that every individual have specific needs that can be classed into need for achievement (nAch), need for affiliation (nAff), and need for power (nPow). Regardless of gender, culture or age, human beings have three motivating drivers that will affect their behavior.
People with a high need for achievement seek to excel, to accomplish in relation to a set of standards, to struggle to achieve success. High nAch individuals prefer work that has a moderate probability of success, ideally a 50% chance. There is a strong need for feedback as to monitor the progress of their achievements. They prefer either to work alone or with other high achievers. High achievers are not interested in rewards or money unless these rewards reflect a measurement of their success. Their desire is to do a task better than it has been done before. The individuals with high achievement needs are highly motivated by competing and challenging work. They also look for promotional opportunities in job.
Second, the individuals who are motivated by affiliation have an urge for a friendly and supportive environment. They prefer to spend time creating and maintaining social relationships, enjoy being a part of groups, and have a desire to feel loved and accepted. Individuals with high nAff strive for friendships, prefer cooperative situations rather than competitive ones, and desire relationships involving a high degree of mutual understanding. Individuals having high affiliation needs prefer working in an environment providing greater personal interaction. Such people have a need to be on the good books of all. They generally cannot be good leaders.
A high need for power may be expressed as "personalized power" or "socialized power". Those with a high need for power work best when they're in charge. Because they enjoy competition, they do well with goal-oriented projects or tasks. They may also be
American’s Psychologist David Clarence McClelland (1917-98) proposed that every individual have specific needs that can be classed into need for achievement (nAch), need for affiliation (nAff), and need for power (nPow). Regardless of gender, culture or age, human beings have three motivating drivers that will affect their behavior.
People with a high need for achievement seek to excel, to accomplish in relation to a set of standards, to struggle to achieve success. High nAch individuals prefer work that has a moderate probability of success, ideally a 50% chance. There is a strong need for feedback as to monitor the progress of their achievements. They prefer either to work alone or with other high achievers. High achievers are not interested in rewards or money unless these rewards reflect a measurement of their success. Their desire is to do a task better than it has been done before. The individuals with high achievement needs are highly motivated by competing and challenging work. They also look for promotional opportunities in job.
Second, the individuals who are motivated by affiliation have an urge for a friendly and supportive environment. They prefer to spend time creating and maintaining social relationships, enjoy being a part of groups, and have a desire to feel loved and accepted. Individuals with high nAff strive for friendships, prefer cooperative situations rather than competitive ones, and desire relationships involving a high degree of mutual understanding. Individuals having high affiliation needs prefer working in an environment providing greater personal interaction. Such people have a need to be on the good books of all. They generally cannot be good leaders.
A high need for power may be expressed as "personalized power" or "socialized power". Those with a high need for power work best when they're in charge. Because they enjoy competition, they do well with goal-oriented projects or tasks. They may also be