Achievement Motivation

Anup K Singh, PhD

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Results

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David McClelland

The achieving society – A study of economically developed societies and their literature

The countries had high achievement imagery

Consequently, they had people who had high need for achievement

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Contd…

Motives are stored in the preconscious mind

They lie in the area of daydream where people talk to themselves without being aware of it

The daydreams can be measured The motives can be changed

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Need for Achievement

Setting standards Competing with peers and self Quest for excellence Hope for success Moderate risk Desire for constant feedback on performance Autonomy preferred

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Need for Achievement - Purpose

They set their own goals They seek challenge They are selective in their goals They are not influenced by the expectations of

others in their goal setting They consult experts They take responsibility for both success and

failure

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Excellence

Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp

Or, What’s heaven for?

Robert Browning

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Be the Best of Whatever You Are?

If you can’t be a pine on the top of the hill,

Be a scrub in the valley, but be,

The best little scrub by the side of the hill,

Be a bush if you can’t be a tree.

If you can’t be a bush, be a bit of the grass,

Some highway happier make,

If you can’t be a muskie, then just be a bass,

But the livliest bass in the lake.

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Be the Best of Whatever You Are?

We can’t all be captains, we’ve got to be crew,

There’s something for all of us here,

There’s big work to do, and there’s lesser to do,

And the task we must do is the near.

If you can’t be a highway, then just be a trail,

If you can’t be the sun, be a star,

It isn’t by size that you win or you fail,

Be the best of whatever you are?

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Need for Achievement - Risk

They take moderate risk They do not gamble in their goal setting

or decision making They stretch their abilities They are realistic They exercise their individuality in setting

moderately difficult goals

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Need for Achievement - Feedback

They prefer tasks in which they get immediate feedback

They actively seek feedback They continuously take feedback in

relation to their goals They change their strivings and

behaviours after thoughtful analysis of feedback

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Need for Achievement

Hope for success(Optimism)

!!! Establish identity, seek

challenge

Reinforce faith & belief in self

Active

Fear of failure(Pessimism)

??? Low self-worth, self

doubt

Perception of task difficulty high

Passive, withdrawn

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Contd…

Moderate risk

Create opportunities

Develop support systems

Low risk

Capacity remains dormant

Luck, chance or fate held responsible

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Need for Power

Influencing others Giving directions Taking responsibilities for tasks Taking control of things Forcing people to do things Reprimanding others in the case of poor

performance

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Need for Affiliation

Urge to be liked by others People first Concern for expectations from others Getting approval from others High level of gregariousness Inability to take tough decision