Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface to the Second English Edition
- Contributors
- 1 Motivation and Action: Introduction and Overview
- 2 Historical Trends in Motivation Research
- 3 Trait Theories of Motivation
- 4 Situational Determinants of Behavior
- 5 Motivation as a Function of Expectancy and Incentive
- 6 Achievement Motivation
- 7 Social Bonding: Affiliation Motivation and Intimacy Motivation
- 8 Power Motivation
- 9 Implicit and Explicit Motives
- 10 Biopsychological Aspects of Motivation
- 11 Motivation and Volition in the Course of Action
- 12 Individual Differences in Self-Regulation
- 13 Intrinsic Motivation and Flow
- 14 Causal Attribution of Behavior and Achievement
- 15 Motivation and Development
- References
- Index
6 - Achievement Motivation
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 August 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface to the Second English Edition
- Contributors
- 1 Motivation and Action: Introduction and Overview
- 2 Historical Trends in Motivation Research
- 3 Trait Theories of Motivation
- 4 Situational Determinants of Behavior
- 5 Motivation as a Function of Expectancy and Incentive
- 6 Achievement Motivation
- 7 Social Bonding: Affiliation Motivation and Intimacy Motivation
- 8 Power Motivation
- 9 Implicit and Explicit Motives
- 10 Biopsychological Aspects of Motivation
- 11 Motivation and Volition in the Course of Action
- 12 Individual Differences in Self-Regulation
- 13 Intrinsic Motivation and Flow
- 14 Causal Attribution of Behavior and Achievement
- 15 Motivation and Development
- References
- Index
Summary
Achievement is undoubtedly the most thoroughly studied motive. It was first identified in Henry A. Murray's list of “psychogenic” needs as “n(eed) Achievement,” and described in the following terms:
To accomplish something difficult. To master, manipulate or organize physical objects, human beings, or ideas. To do this as rapidly and as independently as possible. To overcome obstacles and attain a high standard. To excel one's self. To rival and surpass others. To increase self-regard by the successful exercise of talent (Murray, 1938, p. 164).
Murray can also be considered a pioneer of achievement-motivation research in another respect, namely, as the author of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT). McClelland, Atkinson, Clark, and Lowell (1953) later developed this instrument into one of the best known and most frequently used procedures for measuring people's underlying motives. In their ground-breaking monograph The Achievement Motive, McClelland and associates (1953) defined achievement motivation as follows:
DEFINITION
A behavior can be considered achievement motivated when it involves “competition with a standard of excellence.”
This definition allows a myriad of activities to be considered achievement motivated, the crucial point being a concern with doing those activities well, better than others, or best of all. The striving for excellence implies quality standards against which performance can be evaluated: people may compare their current performance with their own previous performance (“to excel oneself”), for instance, or with that of others (“to rival or surpass others”), as Murray had already specified (see above).
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- Motivation and Action , pp. 137 - 183Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008
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