McClelland's theory of needs, also known as the acquired needs theory, is a motivation theory developed by psychologist David McClelland that holds individuals are primarily driven by three needs acquired over the course of life through experience: the need for achievement, the need for affiliation, and the need for power. McClelland argued that individuals develop differing relative strengths of these three needs, and that a person's dominant need shapes the kind of work, goals, and management style that will motivate them most effectively. The theory has been applied in management practice to inform decisions about job design, team composition, and leadership development, and is commonly taught alongside other content theories of motivation such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs and Herzberg's two-factor theory.
Facts
Core ClaimMcClelland's theory of needs holds that individual behavior is driven by three learned needs, achievement, affiliation and power, present in varying strength in every person. 1 Origin YearCited source states the model was developed in the 1960s, two decades after Maslow's hierarchy of needs (early 1940s); no exact year is given. Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
McClelland theory of needs and Herzberg two-factor theory are the standard paired content theories of motivation.
Sources
1. Wikipedia, McClelland's Theory of Needs
WikipediaWikipedia, Need theory lead sectionQuote, Wikipedia, Need theory lead section
The model was developed in the 1960s, two decades after Maslow's hierarchy of needs was first proposed in the early 1940s.
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