Table of Contents
Definition………………………………………………………………………………………….3
History……………………………………………………………………………………………..3
Current Status……………………………………………………………………………………...6
Current Theory…………………………………………………………………………………….8
Affiliation Motive ………………………………………………………………………...8
Power Motive ……………………………………………………………………………10
Achievement Motive …………………………………………………………………….13
How to Measure Implicit Motives……………………………………………………………….14
Measures of Implicit Motives……………………………………………………………………17
Picture Story Exercise……………………………………………………………………17
Thematic Apperception Test …………………………………………………………….18
Implicit Association Test ………………………………………………………………..19
Multi Motive Grid ……………………………………………………………………….20
Achievement Motive Grid ………………………………………………………………21
Multi Motive Grid: Short Version ………………………………………………………22
Operant Motive Test …………………………………………………………………….23
References ……………………………………………………………………………………….24
Appendix 1……………………………………………………………………………………….29
Appendix 2 ………………………………………………………………………………………30
Table of Contents
Definition
History
Current Status
Current Theory
Affiliation Motive
Power Motive
Achievement Motive
How to Measure Implicit Motives
Measures of Implicit Motives
Picture Story Exercise
Thematic Apperception Test
Implicit Association Test
Multi Motive Grid
Achievement Motive Grid
Multi Motive Grid: Short Version
Operant Motive Test
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this work is to provide a comprehensive overview of implicit motives, tracing their historical development, theoretical foundations, and the various methodologies used for their measurement in psychological research.
- Historical evolution of research on motivational needs.
- Core motivational domains: affiliation, power, and achievement.
- The duality between implicit and explicit motivational systems.
- Critical analysis of measurement tools including projective and semi-projective tests.
Excerpt from the Book
Definition
Implicit motives can be defined as relatively stable and unconscious needs (McClelland, 1980). Implicit motives represent affective preferences that evolve progressively through both learning and experience (McClelland, 1985). Implicit motives are not readily accessible to the conscious mind, but are still capable of influencing individual’s feelings and behaviors (Schultheiss & Brunstein, 2010).
History
Research on implicit motives began in the late 1940s when David McClelland and John Atkinson decided to measure motivational needs in humans (Schultheiss &Brunstein, 2010). McClelland and Atkinson were interested in using hunger motivation as a model for needs systems, but were hesitant to use low-validity, introspective hunger reports from participants. McClelland (1984) stated that he “never put much faith in what people say [are] their values on questionnaires, because I don’t believe that these statements bear very much relationship to what they in fact do or even to the values that implicitly guide their lives” (Schultheiss & Brunstein, 2010, pp. 2-3). While McClelland and Atkinson were brainstorming ways to measure the need for food without having to directly ask participants for this information, a colleague, Bob Knapp, walked by the office, heard the conversation, and suggested using the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) (Winter, 1998). Experiments conducted by McClelland and Atkinson on the effects of food deprivation on TAT story content showed promise, and they went on to test other themes and needs using the TAT. As their study showed that people who were deprivated from food, had more food related content in their TAT stories, McClelland and Atkinson concluded that
Summary of Chapters
Definition: Defines implicit motives as stable, unconscious needs that shape affective preferences and influence behavior.
History: Outlines the origins of motivation research in the late 1940s, highlighting the transition from self-report measures to projective techniques.
Current Status: Discusses the underlying assumptions of modern research and the role of cognitive processes in motive operation.
Current Theory: Details the specific motivational systems regarding affiliation, power, and achievement.
How to Measure Implicit Motives: Explores the scientific debate surrounding the choice between implicit tests and questionnaires for motive assessment.
Measures of Implicit Motives: Provides an overview of various assessment instruments, including their history, usage, and reliability.
Keywords
Implicit motives, Affiliation motive, Power motive, Achievement motive, Thematic Apperception Test, Picture Story Exercise, Multi Motive Grid, Operant Motive Test, Implicit Association Test, Motivation, Unconscious needs, Personality psychology, Projective measures, Behavioral performance, Incentive arousal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this work?
The work provides a thorough examination of implicit motives, focusing on their definition, historical roots, and the diverse methods used to measure them in a psychological context.
What are the primary motivational themes discussed?
The document focuses on the three major implicit motives: the need for affiliation, the need for power, and the need for achievement.
What is the main research question or objective?
The objective is to explain how implicit motives function as unconscious drivers and to compare the effectiveness of different measurement tools in capturing these non-declarative states.
Which scientific methods are utilized for measurement?
The research relies on implicit measurement techniques, specifically projective tests like the TAT and PSE, as well as semi-projective measures such as the Multi-Motive Grid.
What topics are covered in the main section of the book?
The main section covers the psychological theories behind motivation, the specific behaviors associated with different motive profiles, and detailed evaluations of testing instruments.
Which keywords characterize this research?
Key terms include implicit motives, projective tests, motivational systems, personality assessment, and behavioral trends.
How does the "duality hypothesis" function?
The duality hypothesis suggests that humans possess two distinct motivational systems: implicit motives, which are unconscious and affect-based, and explicit motives, which are conscious and goal-oriented.
Why are self-reports considered insufficient for measuring implicit motives?
Self-reports reflect conscious cognitive preferences and social desirability, failing to capture the unconscious affective preferences that drive long-term, spontaneous behavior.
What is the "leadership motive pattern"?
Postulated by McClelland, it is a specific profile involving high power motivation, strong inhibitory tendency (activity inhibition), moderate achievement motivation, and low affiliation motivation, which is associated with leadership success.
How does the Multi-Motive Grid (MMG) differ from earlier tests?
The MMG is a "semi-projective" instrument that combines elements of questionnaires and projective pictures, allowing researchers to measure all three major motives simultaneously within a single testing session.
- Quote paper
- Cand.-Psych. Amir Ghoniem (Author), 2011, Implicit Motives - Historical Roots, Current Status and Measurement, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/210848
