The reasons behind the development of need for achievement

The Reasons behind the Development of Need for Achievement

Introduction

In this essay the author will be showing how a life experience that happened right when she was born made her grow up with a high need for achievement, relating to the theories self-actualization, self- efficacy, and locus of control.

According to S. E. Wood, E. G. Wood, and D. Boyd, authors of Mastering the World of Psychology (2011), the definition of need for achievement is “ the need to accomplish something difficult and to perform at a high standard of excellence” (p. 300). It is something that a lot of people try to do on a daily basis, but for some people need for achievement is something they need to do to feel accomplished. According to Mastering the World of Psychology (2011), self- actualization has two definitions. One being “the pursuit of self-defined goals for personal fulfillment and growth” and the other is “developing to one’s fullest potential” (pp. 302 & 371). These definitions mean about the same thing, but to the way the author grew up, they have different meanings.

Now self-efficacy and locus of control are two social-cognitive theories that affect a person’s personality (Boyd, D., Wood, E.G., & Wood, S.E., 2011, p. 381). In Mastering the World of Psychology (2011), self-efficacy is defined as being “the perception a person has of his or her ability to perform competently whatever is attempted” and locus of control is defined as being “…a cognitive factor that explains how people account for what happens in their lives—either seeing themselves as primarily in control of their behavior and its consequences or perceiving what happens to them to be in the hands of fate, luck, or chance” (Boyd, D., Wood, E.G., & Wood, S.E., p. 379).

Discussion

The author of this essay had to grow up being the only girl in thirteen years. She had to grow up with all male cousins having the