A comprehensive list of motivation theories including primary author(s) and year of first publication. This resource can be used as the starting point for a review of the literature into motivation research over the last 110 years.

1. Comprehensive list of motivation
theories (chronological)
6/12/2016 PhD Candidate (u3150417) 1
Motivation Theory Key Theorist Year
Law of effect Thorndike 1905
Drive-reduction theory Hull 1943
Reinforcement theory / Operant conditioning Skinner 1948
Hierarchy of needs Maslow 1954
Motivator-hygiene (two factor) theory Herzberg 1959
Theory X and Theory Y McGregor 1960
Three-needs / learned / acquired needs theory McClelland 1961
Equity theory Adams 1963
Expectancy theory Vroom 1964
Porter-Lawler expectancy theory Porter & Lawler 1968
Goal-setting theory Locke 1968
ERG theory Alderfer 1969
Job characteristics model (JCM) Hackman & Oldham 1975
Motivation calculus Handy 1976
Social learning theory Bandura 1977
Self determination theory (meta theory of 6) Deci & Ryan 1985
Cognitive Evaluation Theory Deci
Orgnismic Integration Theory Deci & Ryan
Causality orientation theory Deci
Goal contents theory Deci & Ryan
Relationships motivation theory Deci & Ryan
Basic psychological needs theory Ryan
Achievement Goal Theory Nicholls 1989
Motivational climate Ames 1992
Social goals theory Urdan & Maehr 1995
Hierarchical model of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation Vallerand 1997
Trichotomous Goals Theory Elliot 1999
Implicit theories of ability Dweck 1999
Motivational atmosphere Keegan et al 2010
Progress Principle Amabile & Kramer 2011