Maslow's hierarchy of needs versus Hull's drive reduction theory

MASLOW'S THOERY VS. HULL'S THEORY

Integrating Two Theories of Motivational Psychology

Maslow Hierarchy of needs vs. Hull's Drive Reduction Theory

Motivation is common term, but it is not easily defined. This is due to the many studies, which provide different definitions for the term. While some define it as a set of beliefs, values, interests, others define it as a cognitive decision making process. For this paper, motivation is central to a set of processes, which induce, direct, and maintain actions towards an objective. It is not similar to job performance, but it is a contributor to job performance (Linder, 1980). Motivation is a crucial component in the workplace, which explains why organizations are borrowing concepts from the motivation theories. There are many motivational theories, but they either fall under the content or process categories. Content theories assume that individuals have similar needs, and process theories emphasize the importance of cognitive processes in establishing the level of motivation for individuals. In this regard, this study's objective is to explore two motivational theories; the Maslow hierarchy of needs and Hull's drive reduction theories, and subsequently present a base for the assimilation of the two different theories of motivation.

2. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a psychological motivational theory proposed and written by the renowned Abraham Maslow during the Great Depression. The theorist included the theory in his 1943 paper on The Theory of Human Motivation. The theorist wrote the theory based on the conclusions he made after studying the hardships of people who asked for his support. The theory comes with five set of goals, which people endeavor to attain in an effort to satisfy their basic needs (Latham, 2012). Other many things induced Maslow into having such ideas. He was a little Jewish boy in the non-Jewish neighborhood.

This was a little like being the first Negro to be enrolled in an all-white school. In fact, this made him appear isolated and unhappy. His life was lonely, he had no friends, but he grew up in libraries and among books. On the other hand, some works about Maslow reveal that his family was not intact. In this, his father publicly announced that Maslow was ugly, which affected his self-image. His mother, followed suit; similar to the father. Therefore, Maslow grew to hate his parents (Latham, 2012). The readings he did contributed a lot to the development of motivational theories. In fact, motivation has shown to be important since the World War 2.

During the time, employers had not option, but to facilitate the demands of their employees to realize productivity. The theory has made substantial impact in organizations because employers recognize the importance of meeting the needs of their staff to achieve high performance (Latham, 2012). Employees have become essential assets, which explain why their needs, motivation degree, and satisfaction are every employer's priority. Maslow's theory has influenced McGregor's "Theory X and Theory Y" In this context, Theory X comments on the staff being resistant, passive to organizations, particularly when the management does not intervene. He used Maslow's theory to show that Theory x was not appropriate in relation to motivation; therefore, he deduced another theory, "Theory Y"

Analysis of Maslow's Theory

The physiological needs represent the basic human needs, which enhance the survival of the human being. It is the base of the hierarchy, which shows that failure to meet these needs, then, the other needs are non-existent. After realizing the physiological needs, safety needs are the next, which dominate in an individual's behavior. It constitutes of health safety, family safety, and assurance of income. The third level represents the interpersonal needs, and they involve the feeling of belonging (Latham, 2012). Along with the love/belonging, the esteem needs sum up the psychological needs of the individual. The need or desire to feel respected and appreciated are some of the crucial components of the stage. Lastly, there is the self-actualization stage, which defines the person. Owing to this, it qualifies as a self-fulfillment stage.

b. Job satisfaction among industrial and technical teacher educators

Maslow's theory has applied in a number of practitioner and scholarly journals, but some of the studies show that there is no model that can integrate all the workplace motivation. In this regard, although teaching is a science and an art, it is certainly central to skills. Therefore, an additional skill that tutors and leaders must be capable of exhibiting is motivation. The desire to motivate is not limited to student education, which shows that administrators must be in a position to find approaches on how to hire, retain, and motivate employees. As indicated, it is imperative to ensure that different needs of the employees are met in order to realize job satisfaction

The findings show that there are inadequate studies on teacher job satisfaction, including the technical teacher educators. Therefore, Brewer & McMahan-Landers (2003) sought to seek filling this gap and found out that the teachers are most satisfied with their work, but least satisfied with the rules and regulations, including the work procedures of their work settings. This shows that it is strategic to employ Maslow's model in an effort to ensure job satisfaction within the workplace. Furthermore, higher job satisfaction is a representation of high performance, which is further a reflection of achievement or provision of necessary employee needs.

This study has substantial impacts and implications in the current workplace scenario. In this context, most employers are providing or fulfilling their needs to their employees, but they fail to consider the crucial needs in a working environment (Brewer & McMahan-Landers, 2003). Generally, the working environment comprises of several elements, which include the working conditions, rules, and many others, therefore, providing or considering such employee needs, employers can experience higher performance.

5. Empirical Studies: Hull's Drive Reduction Theory

a. Investigation of toilet activities in elderly patients with dementia from the viewpoint of motivation and self-awareness

Uchimoto et al. (2013) conducted a study, which aimed at observing the toilet activities of the elderly patients with dementia. The focus was on the care conditions, and the investigation was central to Hull's drive reduction theory, and another self-awareness model, which comprised of the theory of mind, self-analysis, and self-consciousness. The article provides the evaluation of the association between toilet activities and self-awareness in the patients, and subsequently explained the time when and the motives of the series of toilet activities, when the patients acquire them once, the habits become unfeasible. The results of the research show that in cases when the patients lost the theory of mind, it influenced or made the patient's motivation and intentions vague, which result to collapsing of the toilet activities. Alternative, disappearance of incentives results to the decrease of the patient's motivations, which also result to the collapsing of toilet activities (Uchimoto et al., 2013). Loss of self-evaluation also result to loss of behavior, toilet activities collapse, and with reduced drive, the patients finally cease toilet activities. This study implies that patients should be motivated, towards realizing restoration of their self. Loss of drive, however, will result to decreased desire to achieve a state of normalness for the patients.

b. Behaviorism, latent learning, and cognitive maps: Needed revisions in introductory psychology textbooks

In Jensen (2006), the objective was to evaluate the scholarship in introductory psychology texts books about latent learning. The study reviewed textbooks published in1948-2004, and the findings suggest that the provided scholarship about the subject of latent learning in the introductory textbooks calls for improvement. In addition, the study further shows that the errors in the textbooks are because of the lack of motivation. Therefore, this implies that the errors also call for motivation, which will further induce the drive to provide error-free textbooks. In addition, behavioral theories were not in a position to account or explain the results achieved in latent learning. However, after application of Hull's theory, there was drive to use maps mainly because of the motivation they received. The study is consistent with other studies that apply hull's theory in motivation. In fact, this is in line with the notion of reliability and relevance of the theory in the current century. This further implies that motivation is a behavioral response to achieve particular objectives.

6. How they are related

Almost all motivational theories have the same objective of realizing needs, which subsequently enhance motivation. In this context, the similarity between the two theories is central to the same concept of fulfilling needs, but through different approaches. In the Maslow Model, there are five levels of needs, which if realized, then, an organization can attain high performance. On the other hand, hull's theory is central to homeostasis and drive, and these include biological needs such as hunger, thirst and many others. In addition, in Maslow's theory, every level in the hierarchy is essential because it determines whether the preceding level, whereas in Hull's theory, psychological tension occurs when a need is not met, but once the need is met; there is realization of equilibrium.

7. Application of the theories

Motivational theories apply in a wide variety of contexts. For example, the Maslow model has applied in healthcare, firms, schools and other many other settings. In the case of the Hull's theory, it has also applied in a variety of settings such as healthcare. This shows that even though the theories were developed some decades back, they are still relevant and applicable in wide settings. In my case, sometime in the future, I will either be employed or become a potential employer. This means that fulfilling the needs, will realize satisfaction for my side or the side of the employees. In respect to Hull's theory, as a student, there is a desire to learn and achieve good performance (Hull, 1943). Therefore, there is a drive, which will ensure that there is a response through learning. Another typical example is the drive created by hunger. In this context, there will be a response to eat, and after eating, I will achieve equilibrium.

8. Conclusion

The goal of the study was to survey the Maslow hierarchy of needs and Hull's drive reduction theories, and offer a basis for integration. Maslow's hierarchy was proposed and written by Abraham Maslow in the time of the Great Depression (Latham, 2012). The theory has shown that employees are essential assets, which explain why their needs have become an employer's priority. Maslow's theory has influenced McGregor's "Theory X and Theory Y" On the other hand, the drive reduction theory states that behavior is a reaction to desires such as interest, hunger, and thirst. However, after achieving the goal, there is decrease of the drive. Although the theories were developed many decades ago, the theories are still relevant in motivation.