Motive Theory: The Need Of Personality

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Motive theory is one more way psychologists evaluate personality. The motive theory searches for reasons why people do what they do. It asks questions like what drives people. The underlying idea of the motive theory is that behavior reflects underlying needs. A need represents an unsatisfactory state of being. For instance, primary needs are biological, such as a need for air, water and food. After these basic needs are met, less important needs can be met such as friendship and even love. David McCelland and John Atkinson studied the need for achievement. The need for achievement is the desire to do things well and have pleasure in overcoming obstacles (Clark et al., 1956). The need for achievement varies depending on sex, and childhood …show more content…

I had a first-hand experience of this my freshman year. It was my first time away from home, in a completely new environment. I had a hard time finding the balance between creating friendships and the 15 credit hours I was taking. Eventually, it all caught up to me right before the drop deadline that I was failing a class. I had no idea what to do. My academic advisor told me I was going to flunk out of college, and I freaked out. I cried for three whole days before finally calling up my dad who is the chair of his department at another university. I couldn’t believe I had let this happen, let alone disappoint my parents. They did a great job of consoling me, and telling me that it’s possible to withdraw without it affecting your GPA. In the coming semesters, I would let that failure motivate me to try harder, and study more so I wouldn’t fail a class …show more content…

Three aspects of my personality are avoidant, high on conscientiousness and a high need for achievement. These personality characteristics were studied using different theories, the attachment theory, Big Five, and the motivational theory. Together, these aspects make me who I am. I am someone who is driven, hard working, disciplined, and has a hard time trusting and letting other people into my personal life. Everyone has their different personality traits which make them unique, and that’s the beauty of humans. No one is exactly like anyone

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