Metamotivation

Who is 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, called the hierarchy of needs. Maslow states, “Self-actualizing people are gratified in all their basic needs ”. 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”.

Maslow believed we must make a distinction between the motives of those who operate at or below the level of self-actualization, and those who are self actualized who are also with significant purpose, as their motivations differ significantly. Deficiency needs motivate people to satisfy physiological needs such as hunger, sex, love, whereas being needs propel a person beyond self-actualization and drive them to fulfill their inherent ultimate potential.