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140 theories of motivation

Talking about motivation leads to endless debates on theories, experiments, human nature, philosophy, and other complex subjects.

As early as 1976, Toulouse and Poupart discussed the multitude of work motivation theories, and in 1981, Kleinginna A.M. and Kleinginna P.R. listed 140 definitions of the concept.1

However, understanding the mechanics of motivation becomes futile when implementing a strategy. Most of these theories have been studied in university laboratories, using students as subjects and under highly controlled conditions, assuming that "all things are equal" ("ceteris paribus sic stantibus").

This alone indicates that too many conditions must be met before these theories can be applied to the real business world.

While not dismissing all these theories outright, it is important to note that many were developed using flawed methodologies that are difficult to replicate or do not meet scientific research standards.

Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to consider a few of these theories as a basis for reflecting on systemic motivation mechanisms. To select them, we should focus on those that have stood the test of time, have been supported by subsequent studies, and have generated empirical experiments or models currently applied in the field.