Metamotivation

Metamotivation is a term coined by Abraham Maslow to describe the motivation of people who are self-actualized and striving beyond the scope of their basic needs to reach their full potential. Maslow suggested that people are initially motivated by a series of basic needs,^[1] called the hierarchy of needs. Maslow states, "Self-actualizing people are gratified in all their basic needs (of belongingness, affection, respect, and self-esteem)".^[2] Once a person has successfully navigated the hierarchy of needs thus satisfying all their basic needs, Maslow proposed they then travel "a path called growth motivation".^[3]

Maslow believed that a distinction must be made between the motives of those who operate at or below the level of self-actualization (ones still striving for their basic needs, or ones who have met their basic needs but still live without purpose), and those who are self-actualized who are also with significant purpose, as their motivations differ significantly.^[4] Deficiency needs (drives or D-needs) motivate people to satisfy physiological needs such as hunger, sex, love, whereas being needs (B-needs^[5]) propel a person beyond self-actualization and drive them to fulfill their inherent ultimate potential.^[6]

^ Goble, F. The Third Force: The Psychology of Abraham Maslow. Richmond, Ca: Maurice Bassett Publishing, 1970. Pg. 62.
^ Maslow, A. Farther Reaches of Human Nature. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1971. Pg 299.
^ Rajamanickam, M. Contemporary Fields Of Psychology And Experiments. New Delhi, India: Ashok Kumar Mittal, 1999. Pg 142.
^ Maslow, A. Farther Reaches of Human Nature. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1971. Pg 300.
^ "To summarize, the major changes in the state of the problem of B-knowledge, or illumination-knowledge, are: (A) shifting it away from the question of the reality of angels, etc., i.e naturalizing the question; (B) affirming experientially valid knowledge, the intrinsic value of the enlarging of consciousness ... (C) realizing that the knowledge revealed was there all the time ... Finally (D) this kind of knowledge can be achieved in other ways, we need not rely solely on peak-experiences or peak-producing drugs for its attainment" Religions, Values, and Peak-Experiences Appendix D, p 80. A. H. Maslow. 1970 ISBN 014019487-8
^ Engler, B. Personality Theories. 8th Edition. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 2009. Pg 351.

[1] Goble, F. The Third Force: The Psychology of Abraham Maslow. Richmond, Ca: Maurice Bassett Publishing, 1970. Pg. 62.

[2] Maslow, A. Farther Reaches of Human Nature. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1971. Pg 299.

[3] Rajamanickam, M. Contemporary Fields Of Psychology And Experiments. New Delhi, India: Ashok Kumar Mittal, 1999. Pg 142.

[4] Maslow, A. Farther Reaches of Human Nature. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1971. Pg 300.

[5] "To summarize, the major changes in the state of the problem of B-knowledge, or illumination-knowledge, are: (A) shifting it away from the question of the reality of angels, etc., i.e naturalizing the question; (B) affirming experientially valid knowledge, the intrinsic value of the enlarging of consciousness ... (C) realizing that the knowledge revealed was there all the time ... Finally (D) this kind of knowledge can be achieved in other ways, we need not rely solely on peak-experiences or peak-producing drugs for its attainment" Religions, Values, and Peak-Experiences Appendix D, p 80. A. H. Maslow. 1970 ISBN 014019487-8

[6] Engler, B. Personality Theories. 8th Edition. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 2009. Pg 351.

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