16 Ways that People are Motivated

 

In the pursuit of a rich, meaningful life, there is a growing body of science suggesting that our greatest values guide our behavior. Psychologist Steven Reiss argues that there are 16 core values/desires/motives. Knowing how we priortize them and how others do the same can explain a lot about why we do the things we do. More importantly, knowing how these 16 basic values are priortized can help us to motivate other people–whether we are interested in rewards or punishments. Here are the 16 in no particular order:

 

CURIOSITY - The desire for knowledge and experience.

 

ACCEPTANCE - The desire for inclusion.

 

ORDER - The desire for organization. 

 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY - The desire for the exercise of muscles. 

 

HONOR - The desire to be loyal to one's parents and heritage.

 

POWER - The desire to influence others.

 

 

INDEPENDENCE - The desire for self-reliance. 

 

SOCIAL CONTACT - The desire for companionship.

 

FAMILY - The desire to raise one's own children.

 

STATUS - The desire for social standing. 

 

IDEALISM - The desire for social justice.

 

VENGEANCE - The desire to get even.

 

ROMANCE - The desire for intimate connection, sensuality, and sexuality.

 

EATING - The desire to consume food.

 

SAVING - The desire to collect things.

 

TRANQUILITY - The desire for emotional calm. 

Just remember

• People act in ways that express their values

• Values predict behavior

• People are not necessarily aware of their values

• How we priortize values can change over time

 

If you truly want to motivate other people, learn about what motivates them. The values that describe someone best offer insight into the best way to mobilize their energy. Forego global, simple solutions.

 

 

16 Ways to Motivate Anyone

Moving beyond the notion of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation

Published on July 14, 2014 by Todd B. Kashdan, Ph.D. in Curious?  Psychology Today.