Motivation theories

Here are academic theories about motivation. (Read detail via links)

• Acquired Needs Theory: we seek power, achievement or affiliation.
• Affect Perseverance: Preference persists after disconfirmation.
• Attitude-Behavior Consistency: factors that align attitude and behavior.
• Attribution Theory: we need to attribute cause, that supports our ego.
• Cognitive Dissonance: non-alignment is uncomfortable.
• Cognitive Evalution Theory: we select tasks based on how doable they are.
• Consistency Theory: we seek the comfort of internal alignment.
• Control Theory: we seek to control the world around us.
• Disconfirmation bias: Agreeing with what supports beliefs and vice versa.
• ERG Theory: We seek to fulfill needs of existence, relatedness and growth.
• Escape Theory: We seek to escape uncomfortable realities.
• Expectancy Theory: We are motivated by desirable things we expect we can achieve.
• Extrinsic Motivation: external: tangible rewards.
• Goal-Setting Theory: different types of goals motivate us differently.
• Intrinsic Motivation: internal: value-based rewards.
• Investment Model: our commitment depends on what we have invested.
• Opponent-Process Theory: opposite emotions interact.
• Positive psychology: What makes us happy.
• Reactance Theory: discomfort when freedom is threatened.
• Self-Determination Theory: External and internal motivation.
• Self-Discrepancy Theory: we need beliefs to be consistent.
• Side Bet Theory: aligned side-bets increase commitment to a main bet.
• The Transtheoretical Model of Change: Stages in changing oneself.