The structure of human motivation

BACKGROUND: A unified model of human motivation has been recently introduced that integrates all prior “mini-theories” of motivation into a single, symmetrical model based on first principles: four life domains crossed by three levels of attainment, resulting in 12 discrete motivations. Evidence from a series of studies using a novel image-based method is used to test structural hypotheses derived from a unified model of human motivation. METHOD: The studies employ large samples (810n to 986n) of working adults who conducted a time-constrained image-based exercise to measure the relative presence or absence of different emotional needs. RESULTS: These studies provide support for the theoretical model, suggesting that there is substantial heuristic and practical value in a structured framework of motivating needs. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that our theoretical model reflects deep interrelationships between discrete types of human motivation, and by linking specific measures to a comprehensive model of human motivation, researchers can have confidence that they have adequately measured the motivation construct. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40359-023-01346-5.