Integrating Theories of Motivation

• Published in: The Academy of Management review Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 889 - 913
• Main Authors: Steel, Piers, König, Cornelius J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Briarcliff Manor Academy of Management 01-10-2006
• Subjects: Discounting; Economic motivation; Expectancy theory; Goal setting; Group behaviour; Human behaviour; Human resources; Industrial psychology; Job performance; Management theory; Motivation; Motivation research; Personality psychology; Personnel management; Prospect theory; Psychology; Steels; Studies; Teamwork
• ISSN: 0363-7425; 1930-3807
• DOI: 10.5465/AMR.2006.22527462

Progress toward understanding human behavior has been hindered by discipline-bound theories, dividing our efforts. Fortunately, these separate endeavors are converging and can be effectively integrated. Focusing on the fundamental features of picoeconomics, expectancy theory, cumulative prospect theory, and need theory, we construct a temporal motivational theory (TMT). TMT appears consistent with the major findings from many other investigations, including psychobiology and behaviorism. The potential implications of TMT are numerous, affecting our understanding on a wide range of topics, including group behavior, job design, stock market behavior, and goal setting.