Abraham Maslow (Maslow, A. H., 1970,Motivation and Personality, Harper & Row, New York). suggested that people are hierarchically motivated to satisfy their needs: the desire to satisfy physiological needs are basic, then the desire for security, before the desire for companionship and belonging, followed by a desire for self-esteem, and culminating in a desire for self-actualization -- doing what one most wants and is best suited to do. Maslow's categories of progressive human motivation correlate to the ways of thinking of the IDeSiGN model and can be recognized, interpreted and applied through it.
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Intentional thought is concerned with personal interest and purposefulness. Chldren often display highly charged emotions when they seek some goal or become frustrated in their efforts to do so. Understanding the emotions and personal interests of children is often used to guide them to toward their goals. |
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Physiological needs directly motivate a person to define the source of a need or the object of a desire. Children also become positively motivated when they are well fed, healthy, and full of energy. Addressing physical and intellectual needs as they occur can keep motivation alive while introducing new objects, definitions or descriptions can focus attention and involvement. |
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The need for security concerns the relationship of the person to actors, objects and events in a situation. Such relationships motivate their exploration. When unable to manage relationships children often display their insecurities through irrational behavior that can be redirected by appealing to their curiosity. |
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The need for Companionship is concerned with communication within a social group in a shared context. Children often find companionship in cooperative play. The more meaningful and appropriate the exchange the more motivating it can be. Suggesting, proposing, and presenting ideas to others is highly motivating. |
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Self- esteem is achieved by doing or producing things in an innovative and competent way. Children often display their skills (show off) to gain self esteem. Their accomplishment can be guided and made self-perpetuating by recognizing and rewarding effective activity. |
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Self-actualization depends on success in Goalgetting. Children often work on their own when they feel that they can succeed. Self-actualized people internalize their criteria for success and evaluate their own performance against criteria they accept as their own. The motivation to become self-directed can be enhanced by offering children new, attainable challenges related to what they have already accomplished. |
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An Integrated Person has developed a strong sense of self and an understanding of how they fit into the world. They are motivated to use a more comprehensive frame of reference to structure and interpret their experiences. Children are not yet mature enough to have a fully integrated sense of themselves beyond that afforded by their family, peer and school experiences. They naturally seek help and guidance when confused or uncertain. Their motivation to understand their place in the world can be increased through stories related to their experiences. |
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Experience helps to determine what a person is motivated by. Habits, beliefs, education and cultural traditions structure what people prefer and what they are interested in doing. Designing provides holistic learning experiences that involve several kinds of motivation to help children become self-actualized and well integrated. Most beginners are motivated to be companionable until they have demonstrated their ability and acquired self-esteem. Experts tend to be self-actualized and guided by their own experiences, preferences and beliefs.
People are often motivated differently in different contexts. For example, a person in search of companionship or self esteem may choose a car based on the image it projects to his colleagues while selecting entirely different products to satisfy similar motivations at home. A hobby may respond to motivations that are different than the motivations to do similar work for pay.