The ERG theory is a theory of
human need proposed by
Clayton Alderfer
Clayton Paul Alderfer (September 1, 1940 - October 30, 2015) was an American psychologist and consultant known for developing Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs into a framework of three essential categories: existence, relatedness, and growth.
...
, which developed
Maslow's hierarchy of needs
Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a conceptualisation of the needs (or goals) that motivate human behaviour, which was proposed by the American psychologist Abraham Maslow. According to Maslow's original formulation, there are five sets of basic n ...
by categorizing needs relating to
existence
Existence is the state of having being or reality in contrast to nonexistence and nonbeing. Existence is often contrasted with essence: the essence of an entity is its essential features or qualities, which can be understood even if one does ...
,
relatedness
The coefficient of relationship is a measure of the degree of consanguinity (or biological relationship) between two individuals. The term coefficient of relationship was defined by Sewall Wright in 1922, and was derived from his definition of th ...
and
growth.
Overview
In 1969,
psychologist
A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation, observation, and explanation, interpretatio ...
Clayton Alderfer developed
Abraham Maslow
Abraham Harold Maslow ( ; April 1, 1908 – June 8, 1970) was an American psychologist who created Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a theory of psychological health predicated on fulfilling innate human needs in priority, culminating in self-actua ...
's hierarchy of needs by categorizing the hierarchy into his ERG theory (
Existence
Existence is the state of having being or reality in contrast to nonexistence and nonbeing. Existence is often contrasted with essence: the essence of an entity is its essential features or qualities, which can be understood even if one does ...
,
Relatedness
The coefficient of relationship is a measure of the degree of consanguinity (or biological relationship) between two individuals. The term coefficient of relationship was defined by Sewall Wright in 1922, and was derived from his definition of th ...
and
Growth). The existence category is concerned with the need for providing the basic material existence requirements of humans. The relatedness category is concerned with the desire for maintaining important
interpersonal relationship
In social psychology, an interpersonal relation (or interpersonal relationship) describes a social association, connection, or affiliation between two or more people. It overlaps significantly with the concept of social relations, which a ...
s. The growth category is concerned with the desire for
personal development
Personal development or self-improvement consists of activities that develops a person's capabilities and potential, enhance quality of life, and facilitate the realization of dreams and aspirations. Personal development may take place over the ...
. These include the intrinsic component from Maslow's esteem category and the characteristics included under
self-actualization
Self-actualization, in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, is the highest personal aspirational human need in the hierarchy. It represents where one's potential is fully realized after more basic needs, such as for the body and the ego, have been fulfill ...
.
Alderfer categorized Maslow's physiological needs and Maslow's safety needs into the existence category, Maslow's social needs and Maslow's extrinsic component of self-esteem needs into the relatedness category, and Maslow's intrinsic component of self-esteem needs and Maslow's self-actualization needs into the growth category. Alderfer also proposed a progression and regression theory to go along with the ERG theory: he said that when needs in a lower category are satisfied, an individual will invest more efforts in the higher category, and when needs in a higher category are frustrated, an individual will invest more efforts in the lower category. For example, if
self-esteem
Self-esteem is confidence in one's own worth, abilities, or morals. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs about oneself (for example, "I am loved", "I am worthy") as well as emotional states, such as triumph, despair, pride, and shame. Smith and Macki ...
or self-actualization is not met then an individual will invest more effort in the relatedness category in the hopes of achieving the higher need.
Publication
This theory was published originally in the journal ''Organizational Behavior and Human Performance''.
See also
*
Engel's law
Engel's law is an economic relationship proposed by the statistician Ernst Engel in 1857. It suggests that as family income increases, the percentage spent on food decreases, even though the total amount of food expenditure increases. Expendit ...
, an economic model for how well basic needs are met
*
John Curtis Gowan
*
Juan Antonio Pérez López, spontaneous and rational motivation
*
Manfred Max-Neef's Fundamental human needs
*
Maslow's hierarchy of needs
Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a conceptualisation of the needs (or goals) that motivate human behaviour, which was proposed by the American psychologist Abraham Maslow. According to Maslow's original formulation, there are five sets of basic n ...
*
Metamotivation
*
Murray's psychogenic needs
*
Need theory
Need theory, also known as three needs theory,
Umuc.edu. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
*
Need
A need is a deficiency at a point of time and in a given context. Needs are distinguished from wants. In the case of a need, a deficiency causes a clear adverse outcome: a dysfunction or death. In other words, a need is something required for a ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
A Theory of Human Motivation original 1943 article by Maslow.
Human development
Interpersonal relationships
Organizational behavior
Personal development
Personal life
Developmental psychology
Motivational theories
Happiness
Psychological concepts
Positive psychology