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Compare and Contrast Clayton Paul Alderfer's Erg Theory of Motivation and Abraham Maslow's Needs Hierarchy

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Needs Theories Overview
Needs-based motivation theories are based on the understanding that motivation stems from an individual's desire to fulfill or achieve a need. Human beings are motivated by unsatisfied needs, and certain lower needs must be satisfied before higher needs can be satisfied. In general terms, motivation can be defined as the desire to achieve a goal, combined with the energy, determination and opportunity to achieve it. This Wiki explores Abraham H. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs theory, Clayton P. Alderfer's Existence Related Growth (ERG) Theory, and the expansion of David McClelland's Need Theory by Henry A. Murray.
Abraham Maslow
Abraham Maslow was born April 1, 1908, the first of seven born to his poorly educated …show more content…

Examples of this need include shelter or housing, physical ability to defend one’s self, the need to have limits or law (or a conscience), and a regular routine that an individual is comfortable with. Once one’s physiological needs have been met, s/he will move on to the safety needs.
Higher-Order Needs:
3. Social Needs include friendship and companionship. One must know that he/she is not alone in the world and be able to communicate feelings and needs with other individuals.
4. Esteem Needs - An individual eventually needs to feel that he/she has a social status. This goes beyond just having social relationships; the individual must feel that in work or at home he/she is making a contribution. This also includes recognition of achievement from others.
5. Self-actualization Needs - This is the final and highest level of needs. Meeting this need is characterized by continuously focusing on personal growth, problem solving, life appreciation, and peak experiences for oneself. (Huitt, 2004)
Maslow’s concept of self-actualization (SA) represents “everything that one is capable of becoming.” (Value Based Management.net, 2009) And he felt that the capacity for this concept was innate to all human beings. It was not learned through conditioning or earned through rewards. (Hall, 2007) When observing SA, it is important to note that the category does not complete Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Many researchers thought that

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