Remember that all human behaviour rests on two principles: people's behaviour is not coincidental (Links to an external site.), and no two people are alike. All behaviour, therefore, is motivated. The state of mind that directs a person’s behaviour and energy towards the achievement of goals can be seen as a process or cycle.
The motivation Cycle
The motivation cycle consists of three interdependent elements
Need: A need results from an imbalance caused by a lack of something. For example, a physiological (Links to an external site.)need develops when a person has no food or water. For learners, the physiological need for food, clothes and shelter (housing) should be satisfied by their parents or caregivers (Links to an external site.).
Driving force (motivation):The needs of individuals motivate (or drive) them to achieve the goals which they believe will satisfy those needs. For example, a need to earn and to be self-supporting supplies the drive to study and to qualify for a profession in order to earn money.
Goal: The thing that satisfies the need is the goal of the motivation process (Links to an external site.). The achievement of the goal – for example, obtaining a qualification, being appointed to a post, or earning a salary – will restore the balance (Smit & Cronje, 1992:323).